Tribune supports a rotating regional primary system

Salt Lake Tribune's lead editorial today:

In place of [the current] free-for-all, the reform plan would divide the states into four regions — East, South, Midwest and West. Utah would be in the West region. One regional primary would be scheduled in each of the months of March, April, May and June. A lottery would decide the order in 2012, then in subsequent presidential election years the order would rotate. For example, the region that goes first in 2012 would go last in 2016, etc.

Iowa and New Hampshire would be allowed to keep their traditional spots as the first caucus and primary. That would preserve the ability of candidates without much money or name recognition to prove themselves in these small states that rely on in-person politicking.

This system isn't flawless. It would give candidates from states in the first regional primary an early advantage, for example. But it would ensure that each region would have its say, and it would favor more efficient campaigns.

Good idea, but there's no reason to keep kowtowing to Iowa and New Hampshire. And I'd prefer about six regions rather than four.