Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack says he doesn't agree with a recommendation to slot Nevada between Iowa and New Hampshire in the presidential nominating calendar.

Intent on adding diversity to the early voting, the Democrats' rules and bylaws committee chose Nevada last week to hold its caucuses after Iowa's leadoff caucuses in January 2008.

The Democratic National Committee is expected to approve the recommendation next month.

Vilsack, the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in 30 years, is a potential presidential candidate. He said there are other ways to inject racial diversity into the nominating process.

"The good news . . . is we're all going to campaign in Iowa. That's for sure," Vilsack said yesterday during a taping of Iowa Public Television's Iowa Press, airing this weekend.

Last week, the bylaws committee approved a 2008 presidential calendar that begins with Iowa's caucuses on Monday, Jan. 14, followed by Nevada's caucuses, probably on Saturday, Jan. 19. New Hampshire would hold its first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, Jan. 22. South Carolina's primary probably would come a week later.

Despite the committee's recommendation to keep his state first on the calendar, Vilsack said the debate for a shakeup included "a tremendous effort against Iowa."

Vilsack will leave office in January and is considered to be testing the waters for a presidential run in 2008. He remained cagey about that prospect, saying that he would make a decision after November's elections.

But Vilsack has shared a blueprint of how his presidential campaign might look, offering ideas on the Iraq war, foreign policy and energy independence.

Vilsack said running for president was "about making sure you have a compelling vision for this country."

"It's like Ronald Reagan asked. . . Do you really feel safer than six years ago?" Vilsack said, adding, "We can do a better job keeping people safe and secure."

On Iraq, Vilsack called for Iraqi people to take more responsibility.

"They do not appreciate today that it's their responsibility," he said. "They need to protect their country."

He also lamented that Iraq appears to have weakened the United States' diplomatic clout.

"The U.S. doesn't seem like it's in position to broker peace," he said. "It doesn't seem to have the power. . . . We're now dependent on other states to carry out diplomacy."

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