Manchester and Des Moines, meet Vegas and Charleston: Following a brief but angry speech from a top NH Dem, the DNC formally ratified a plan to add NV and SC to the list of early-voting states for the '08 presidential campaign.

The schedule, previously approved by the DNC's rules and bylaws cmte, is as follows: IA caucus on 1/14, NV caucus on 1/19, NH primary on 1/22 and SC primary on 1/29.

Concluding its summer meeting in Chicago, DNCers approved the plan over the fierce objections of NH Dem Chair Kathy Sullivan, who called it a "hurried and band-aid approach" to the real issue of "front-loading" presidential primaries.

Sullivan opened her remarks this morning by wishing Bill Clinton, who has backed NH in this debate, a happy 60 birthday, which is today. "And frankly, it's a little ironic we're considering this rule today because had this been in effect in 1992, I do not believe he would have been president of the United States."