The bill was passed over in a house committee today despite assurances that the measure was ready for a vote. Afterward, some of the bill's supporters promised to bring it up again. But House Speaker Jody Richards told me he expects the house to leave the run off law alone except for a provision about who should pay for it. County clerks claim it will cost them $5 million dollars to execute another election in June, if it's necessary. The speaker says he expects the house to vote for a measure that would have state government foot the bill for the extra election day.

One has to wonder what role the fractured house leadership is having on the behind-the-scenes wrangling on this bill, with Richards running for governor.

The run off provision in state law calls for a second primary if no candidate gets more than 40% of the vote. The top two finishers would square off for their party's nomination.