From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Will voters be singing Christmas carols in New Hampshire?

Hello again, I'm O'Man Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues.

Americans care about most.

Next year's presidential primary process may be over exactly one year from today,

as big states and little states compete to become more important.

California wants its primary on February the 5th,

with Florida, Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey likely to follow suit.

Moves by Nevada and Iowa may push New Hampshire up to December of this year, with 11 months still to go before the general election.

On to the point, what would that mean for discussion of issues or the chances of dark horses

who don't have massive war chests?

Would the candidates still have to shake hands with voters, or would it all be about TV?

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Warren Alney back with To the Point. In bids for more

influence in next year's presidential elections, big states and little states are moving their

primaries forward. New Hampshire's may be held in December of this year. The nominations could

be decided exactly one year from today. On to the point,

would that put an end to what's left of real political discourse? Would it finally reduce all

presidential campaigning to TV commercials? First, this news update, President Bush's latest

budget is a staggering $2.9 trillion with one-fifth, $624 billion for the military.

Here's how the President summed up his priorities.

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