Despite Missouri Republican’s move to hold a caucus rather than a primary, Missouri law currently still requires a presidential primary on Feb. 7 — even if Republicans are using caucuses and the Democratic candidate will be President Barack Obama. Coming a month before Missouri’s caucuses, even a nonbinding presidential preference election would allow Missouri to leave a mark on a possible favored candidate relatively early in the contest. Depending somewhat on what happens during the early state caucuses and primaries, a win in a Missouri “beauty contest” could help a candidate demonstrate viability, earn attention and shore up fundraising.
The national Republican and Democratic parties have pushed states to wait longer to hold their presidential contests next year and have threatened to dock half the delegates to the national convention for a state that goes too early.
The national party rules allow Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold their primaries or caucuses in February. The rest are supposed to wait until at least March.

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