Republicans have approved a 2012 primary schedule that only delays the intense front-loaded calendar that marked this year's rush by the states to vote earlier and earlier with the first votes cast just after the start of the new year.

The rules for the next presidential nominating season put off until February the first two state primaries in New Hampshire as first in the nation and South Carolina as first in the South. Both states voted in January this year in a schedule that touched off a race among other states to move their primaries forward on the calendar.

Iowa and Nevada would be allowed to hold caucuses in January since technically they do not award delegates.

All other states would be barred from holding primaries before early March or face penalties. In contrast, more than 20 states voted on one day in early February this year, which left candidates scrambling to campaign in the several primaries.

States that move their primaries ahead of the approved schedule would lose half of their convention delegates, as happened this year in Florida and Michigan.

Already, though, states are talking about ways to get around the primary calendar with a possible super-contest of big state primaries or holding caucuses.

Democrats will not adopt their 2012 rules until after the November election, but nominee Sen. Barack Obama generally agrees with the GOP schedule allowing New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Iowa to vote early but to hold no other primary contests before February.

Despite talk of reform, the parties show little inclination to change.