Three Democrats sign pledge on U.S. calendar chaos

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three Democratic White House contenders promised on Friday they would not campaign in states that violate party rules by holding early nominating contests, siding with Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in a growing dispute over the 2008 election calendar.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd signed a letter distributed by officials in those four early voting states promising to skip any other state contests held before February 5, 2008.

Florida and Michigan have run afoul of the Democratic National Committee by moving their nominating contests to earlier dates that conflict with the party's calendar.

The DNC has threatened to strip the two states of their delegates to the national nominating convention if the states go ahead.

"This process is completely out of control and only an agreement by the candidates can restore sanity," Richardson said in a statement. "Anarchy in the nominating process does nothing to further the cause of changing America."

The original schedule approved by the DNC called for Iowa to kick off the race on January 14, followed by Nevada on January 19, New Hampshire on January 22 and South Carolina on January 29. Other states could then follow beginning on February 5.

But Florida has moved its primary to January 29, and Michigan's governor is set to sign a bill moving its contest to January 15. A DNC committee voted last week to strip Florida of its delegates if the state stuck to its schedule, and the two sides are trying to work out an agreement.

Dodd said the traditional grass-roots politics practiced in traditional early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire were more important than ever in the 2008 race.

"In this year, where the national media focus seems to be on celebrity and bank accounts, the role of these states is more important than ever," he said.

Other Democratic candidates, including top contenders Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, have not responded to the letter yet.