What comes to mind when you think of Feb. 5? Pancakes or presidents?

That, in essence, was the dilemma facing International House of Pancakes executives when they sought “to lobby 15 state governors to move their Super Tuesday presidential primary elections” from Feb. 5.

Those Feb. 5 states include Missouri and Illinois.

The reason for IHOP’s quest? As the chain explains in a release:

“Super Tuesday, set for February 5, 2008, encroaches upon the centuries-old celebration of Pancake Day, traditionally held the Tuesday preceding Lent to rid iceboxes of forbidden dairy products.”

Since 2006, IHOP has used National Pancake Day as a charity fundraising campaign for the communities where it has restaurants. “In 2007, IHOP joined forces with Children’s Miracle Network to give away more than 1.1 million pancakes and raise more than $625,000 for local children’s hospitals and other worthy causes,” the company said.

Amid the prospect of 2008’s Pancake Day coinciding with the presidential juggernaut, IHOP apparently engaged in some talks with various states, and then decided to “activate Plan B” and move Pancake Day to Feb. 12.

In exchange, said IHOP in a release, “several Governors (are) offering their support by proclaiming February 12 as National Pancake Day.”

“In honor of National Pancake Day, IHOP will give away a free short stack of its signature buttermilk pancakes to each guest on February 12, 2008,” the release said. “In return, IHOP asks that its guests consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through the Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit dedicated to improving children’s hospitals nationwide, or other local charities.”

By that time, the 15 or so states holding primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5 will likely have nailed the presidential nominees for both major parties.