Florida Dems Devise Do-Over Plan

[DoubleEdgeSword]

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) -- Florida Democrats want a do-over, and state party officials have a proposal for recouping the 210 delegates that the Sunshine State lost when it moved its primary ahead of the approved time frame.

State Democratic officials knew voters' ballots wouldn't count when they were cast January 29.

The party is proposing a combination mail-in and in-person election to be held June 3. Fundraising and public comment would begin immediately.

"The plan would be inclusive of all Democratic voters," according to a memo accompanying the draft plan that was sent Wednesday night to party leaders, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the party's candidates for the presidential nomination.

Any plan would need the blessings of the DNC and the Clinton and Obama campaigns.

"We really believe that all Floridians deserve to be heard," said state party Chairwoman Karen Thurman, but "if this is not what the people of Florida and our presidential candidates want, then we're not going to do it."

The proposal could prove problematic because Florida law bans the state from conducting elections by mail.



http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/13/primary.proposal/index.html

[DoubleEdgeSword]

What a mess. First of all, I can see all kinds of problems cropping up with this plan. Second, what about Michigan? How can you do one and not the other? Obama's name was even on the ballot in that state.

[db44]

Still can't read it all. :p

That said, having weighed in earlier, my feelings still stand. They decided, against the party's wishes, to move their primary. The Florida has to live with their stupidity now. Besides, considering how they've botched 2000 down there, maybe we're better leaving them out of the process now.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Bloody hell... How do I fix it? Or can I?

I'm with you, Dave. Just leave it alone and leave us out of the process. Pfft.

[pinky]

How late did the Florida primary used to be in presidential years, DES?

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Hmm. Seems to me it was around mid-March or so. Definitely after Super Tuesday.

[pinky]

Ha! I bet they're really ticked off now, since they would have had a MAJOR impact this month! :p

[DoubleEdgeSword]

I don't know what is wrong with this state. Honestly. Too much humidity or something...

[ConnieB]

Both states decided to move their primary up and they were warned the delegates would not count...so why does either state deserve a do over? It was their choice, now they have to live with it

I know here in MI, our governor moved our primary because she wanted our issues to be heard before Super Tuesday as she thought it would have been over that night and our votes would not matter anyways. But since it's not over, she wants a do over so our votes are the deciding factor. Sorry you can't have it both ways.....and she keeps ignoring any questions on how this do over will be paid for.

No matter what happens here in MI, people will be angry and we have our DEMOCRATIC governor to thank for putting us in the situation in the first place.

[pinky]

Connie, are you a Democrat? Because if you're not, you have no reason to complain about this.

[db44]

I am a Democrat, or closer to it than the other side. I agree with her.

[pinky]

I didn't say I disagreed with her, Dave. But if she's not a Democrat, it really has absolutely NO impact on her, does it? She hasn't been disenfranchised by the party's decision.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

According to CNN-TV reports, the Florida Democratic Party says there will not be a second vote in the state.

[Regis Philbin]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/17/florida.primary.decision/index.html

No new primary for Florida Democrats

Florida Democratic chairwoman says there will be no re-vote in Florida primary

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After weeks of negotiations, the Florida Democratic Party said Monday it will not hold a second primary in the state.

"We researched every potential alternative process -- from caucuses to county conventions to mail-in elections -- but no plan could come anywhere close to being viable in Florida," said state party chairwoman Karen Thurman in an e-mail sent to Florida Democrats late Monday afternoon.

Thurman said the decision now falls to the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee, which is scheduled to meet again next month.

But it is not clear whether that committee has the power to make a final decision, or whether it will fall to the Credentials Committee, which will decide in August which delegations will be seated at the presidential nominating convention in Denver.

The national party stripped Florida of its delegates last year, along with Michigan, when both states scheduled their primaries in January in violation of DNC instructions.

None of the major candidates campaigned there ahead of those votes.

Florida's Democrats had been weighing several options for a re-vote, including a possible mail-in primary to be held before the DNC's June 10 deadline.