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State GOP Attacks Democrats

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The Associated Press

Published: February 3, 2008

ORLANDO - Florida's Republican Party chairman took a swipe at Democrats on Saturday during his party's annual meeting, saying they should apologize for disenfranchising voters during the state's primary election.

Last Tuesday's primary violated both major parties' rules because it was held before Feb. 5. Republican candidates, however, still campaigned in Florida often and spent the last 10 days before the election in the state.

Democrats, though, made no public appearances in Florida in the four months leading up to the primary after signing a pledge to protect the interests of party-approved early voting states. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who won the Democratic vote, did hold an election night rally after polls closed.

"Each candidate signed a pledge and created a barrier between the voters of this state, and our Founding Fathers would roll over in their graves if they ever heard of such a thing," said Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer during the meeting.

The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all its convention delegates, essentially meaning that voters will have no say in choosing a nominee. Republicans were stripped of half their delegates, but 57 still went to Florida winner Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Karen Thurman couldn't be immediately reached for comment, but at a Democratic Party meeting earlier in the day, she said Democratic voter turnout shows that her party is motivated. More than 1.7 million Democrats cast ballots in the primary despite the national party punishment.

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