(AP) -- Missouri's presidential primary may not officially decide anything, but that's not stopping candidates from running anyway.

Presidential hopefuls could start filing Tuesday for the Feb. 7 Missouri primary. The timing of Missouri's election has prompted controversy because it is about a month earlier than allowed by the national Republican and Democratic parties.

Missouri Republicans decided to award delegates to their national convention through a caucus process that starts March 17 to avoid penalties because of the early primary. Democrats are not expected to have a tightly contested race because President Barack Obama is running for re-election.

Republicans Mitt Romney and Herman Cain filed on Tuesday morning for the Missouri primary.

Romney's filing was submitted by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and several other Missouri Republican elected officials.

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