State Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen yesterday shrugged off a national GOP panel's decision to withhold half the state party's delegates to the Republican national convention next summer.

The unanimous recommendation by the 27-member Republican National Committee's executive committee was issued as punishment for the New Hampshire's GOP's intention to follow state law, as it always has, and hold its presidential primary on a date selected by Secretary of State William Gardner.

An RNC rule forbids any state from holding a presidential delegate selection contest prior to Feb. 5, 2008. The same rule was in effect in 2004 but was not enforced because there was not a contested GOP primary and no one in the RNC complained, RNC Chair Robert "Mike" Duncan said during a conference call.

The New Hampshire Union Leader has learned that Duncan, after announcing the sanctions yesterday, is scheduled to appear tomorrow night at a $250-a-couple fund-raiser for the state GOP committee at the home of Sen. John E. Sununu's parents in Hampton Falls. The host committee includes Cullen, former Gov. John H. Sununu and his wife, Nancy, Sen. Judd Gregg, party vice chairman Wayne MacDonald and state RNC member Sean Mahoney.(Editor's note: When first posted, this story incorrectly reported that the fund-raiser was for Sen. Sununu.)

State Democrats face similar punishment from the Democratic National Committee if, as expected, the New Hampshire primary is held before Jan. 22, " the date the DNC wants the leadoff primary to be held. If the state Democrats' final delegate selection plan includes a primary date prior to Jan. 22, the state Democrats would automatically lose half its delegates. But the national rules committee has the discretion to withhold up to 100 percent, depending on the flagrancy of the violation.

A host of states have moved up primaries and caucuses to Feb. 5 or before, and Gardner is mulling when to schedule the primary, which by law must be at least seven days before any "similar election." He has said it can be held no later than Jan. 8, and he has not ruled out scheduling it for December.

The New Hampshire Republican Party would send 24 delegates to the 2008 convention in Minneapolis if it complied with the Feb. 5 rule, but after yesterday's action, it will in all likelihood be sending 12.

The committee's action was officially a recommendation that now goes to the full RNC, which will vote on it between the November elections and Jan. 1, 2008. The sanction will become final when Duncan issues the final "call to the convention" prior to Jan. 1.

No surprise

In Concord, Cullen said the vote came as no surprise.

"If we're being asked to choose between protecting and preserving the first-in-the-nation primary or being a delegate to the national convention, we'll give up our delegates," Cullen said. Cullen noted that "RNC rules are in conflict with state law, and we're being punished for something we have no control over.

"But we will gladly pay the price. The New Hampshire primary isn't about delegates. It's about candidates proving their ability to win support across a broad electorate," Cullen said.

But RNC Chair Duncan said the state Republican Party does have a choice. He said the party can ignore the primary and hold a separate "binding" caucus or convention on or after Feb. 5 to allocate its convention delegates to candidates.

"It has been clear by court decision that the state parties have the ability to enforce their own rules," Duncan said. "In the past, we've had state parties that have conducted their own primaries or have conducted conventions or caucuses."

Also punished by the executive committee vote were Florida, which has scheduled a primary for Jan. 29, South Carolina (Jan. 19), Michigan (Jan. 15) and Wyoming, scheduled to hold nominating county conventions on Jan. 5.

Iowa Republicans have scheduled a caucus for Jan. 3 and Nevada Republicans, Jan. 19. But they are not being punished because the caucus-goers in those states do not directly allocate delegates to candidates.

Iowa's Republican Party Web site says, however, that "the delegates usually feel obligated to follow the wishes expressed by the caucus-goers."

Democrats, beyond sanctioning states that do not comply with their rules, are also set to withhold delegates from candidates who campaign in the non-complying states. Republicans do not go that far.

"This is a big distinction," said Duncan. "We aren't saying, Don't campaign in Florida.' We're not going to take all their delegates away. We are saying that we are going to enforce the rules that were passed by the 2004 convention and are in effect until the 2008 convention, which adopts the rules for 2012."

Democrats can change their rules at any time through a vote by the Democratic National Committee, but Republican rules can only be changed every four years at the national conventions.

Options open?

Cullen said he did not think the sanctions by the RNC will turn Granite Staters who would otherwise vote Republican against the party.

"I just don't think it's a valid concern," he said, noting that the DNC may also sanction New Hampshire Democrats.

While Cullen ruled out any possibility of a state GOP delegate selection contest outside of the primary, state Democrats are keeping their options open if Gardner schedules a primary in December.

State Democratic Chairman Raymond Buckley denied a blog report last week that he had "floated the idea" of his party ignoring the New Hampshire primary if it is held in December and holding a party-run caucus later. But Buckley spokesman, Pia Carusone, told the same blog, "Changing our delegate selection process is not off the table until a December 11 primary is off the table."

She told the New Hampshire Union Leader, "No decision, considerations or discussions about our process can occur until Bill Gardner sets the date. Up to and until that moment, we aren't ruling anything out."

Meanwhile, Republicans John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney promised to support New Hampshire if an unexpected threat emerges from Michigan Republicans.

"I understand the value and purpose of" the primary, McCain said, "and realize the influence candidates can wield to ensure it is respected and maintained." He said he will do "everything in my power to protect New Hampshire's unique and traditional first-in-the-nation primary, and I call on all candidates to use their influence to do the same."

Giuliani spokesman Jeff Grappone said Giuliani "recognizes and respects New Hampshire's special role as the first-in-the-nation primary state. Having talked personally with Granite State voters all year, he has seen firsthand how the state's residents take time to carefully consider candidates and issues. Regardless of how the nominating calendar plays out, Rudy remains committed to campaigning in New Hampshire and winning the state's primary."

Romney state campaign manager Jim Merrill said, "Since day one, Governor Romney has demonstrated his commitment to the primary by running a traditional New Hampshire campaign in all 10 counties, and that is simply indisputable. Mitt Romney has spent more time on the ground in New Hampshire than any other Republican candidate, and his vigorous campaign schedule here demonstrates his sincere commitment to, and respect for, our primary."