I am using Excel 2003

I am trying to add conditional format to a column of cells with the
condition refering to a date in the corresponding cell in the previous
column. Is there a way of copying this conditional formatting to other cells
in the column and the formula progressing as it would if the cell had just a
formula in it (i.e. +A1+B1 becomes =A2+B2 in the next row when copied down).
Whenever and however I copy the cell the conditional formatting always refers
to the original cell not the next one down.