By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Alabama will now have one of the first presidential preference primaries in the country. Alabama's Democratic and Republican primaries for the presidential race will move from June third to February fifth, 2008. The governor signed the change into law Thursday. He says that will give state voters a greater say in determining the nominees for president. He also says the early primary will prompt more presidential candidates to visit Alabama. Several Mobile area legislators are concerned because the 2008 presidential primary will fall on Mardis Gras. That's a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin counties.