CNN and the Los Angeles Times have just announced that they will be teaming up to co-host back-to-back debates in January 2008 -- just days before the new "super-primary" day of Feb. 5. That would be less than a year from now.

The two news orgs have traditionally paired up to host debates just before the California primary in June. But California's state legislature recently moved up the state's contest to February, prompting the decision by CNN and the LA Times to move up the date of their debate, too. The earlier date will ratchet up the debate's importance, because it will have the capacity to influence the outcome far earlier in the process.

The Republican debate will be held on Jan. 30 while the Democrats will meet on Jan. 31.