The Republican (and Democratic) primaries to select the presidential nominee have been "front-loaded" such that the winner will likely be clear by February 6, over six months before the party conventions are held in late August and September. For 2008, the Republican National Convention was held Sept. 1-4 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
This is the primary schedule that will select the Republican presidential nominee (some dates are subject to change):
January 21, 2008 - Iowa (caucuses)
January 29, 2008 - New Hampshire
February 2, 2008 - South Carolina
February 5, 2008 - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia (by convention)
February 5, 2008 - Michigan
February 5, 2008 - California, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Texas
February 12, 2008 - Tennessee
February 9 or 16, 2008 - Louisiana
February 19, 2008 - Minnesota, Wisconsin
February 26, 2008 - New Jersey
March 4, 2008 - Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Texas, Vermont
March 4, 2008 - Pennsylvania
March 11, 2008 - Florida, Mississippi, Washington
March 18, 2008 - Illinois
April 15, 2008 - Colorado
April 26, 2008 - Kansas, Nevada
May 2008 - Alaska
May 6, 2008 - Indiana
May 10, 2008 - Wyoming
May 13, 2008 - Nebraska
May 20, 2008 - Kentucky, Oregon
May 27, 2008 - Idaho
June 3, 2008 - South Dakota, California[8]
June 6, 2008 - Hawaii, Virginia
June 9, 2008 - Montana