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Democrats' Pact To Boycott Florida Cracking

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By WILLIAM MARCH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

Updated: 01/22/2008 12:11 am

TAMPA - Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have begun a battle over Florida despite their promise to boycott the state, raising the possibility the pledge may break down.

Monday, Clinton's campaign accused Obama of violating the pledge by running a national television ad that is airing in Florida, and hinted that in response, she will reconsider whether to abide by the deal.

"We certainly weren't happy about the pledge, but we have scrupulously abided by it," U.S. Rep. Debbie Waserman Schultz of Weston, a national co-chairwoman for Clinton, said Monday in a conference call with reporters. Now, she said, "It's time to review all the options on the table."

Those options could include any kind of campaign activity, she said.

Obama's campaign, meanwhile, denied it had broken the pledge. A spokesman said the campaign got clearance for the ad from the Democratic Party chairwoman in South Carolina, one of the early primary states that sought the boycott promise.

Even though both campaigns have adhered to the pledge for months, the brouhaha makes it clear they consider the state too important to ignore.

Each Side Looking For Boost

The race increasingly appears unsettled, with neither Clinton nor Obama emerging as a clear front-runner. Both could use the huge momentum boost from a good performance in the nation's largest swing state.

Obama has been unable to duplicate his Iowa upset, and Clinton has surged nationally, winning New Hampshire and Nevada since then. She has led in polls in Florida for months, and a big win here could propel her into Feb. 5, Super Tuesday, with nearly unstoppable momentum.

Clinton, however, has seen her lead in those Florida polls narrowing, and Obama leads in South Carolina, the only other state to vote between now and Super Tuesday. An Obama win there and a good showing in Florida could squelch her surge.

So both campaigns have reason to worry about the Sunshine State outcome, even though it will produce no nominating convention delegates.

The pledge arose because the state's Jan. 29 primary violates the schedules authorized by both national parties, which said Feb. 5 is the earliest allowable date.

The Democrats authorized four states - Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina - to hold earlier primaries. When Florida moved its primary up, Democratic parties in those states demanded the candidates boycott Florida.

The national party, meanwhile, sanctioned Florida by eliminating its delegates to the national convention, where the nominee is chosen.

The Obama ad is running on CNN nationwide, including, the Clinton campaign said, in about 6.6 million Florida homes. Even though it's not aimed at Florida, that violates the pledge, Clinton's campaign contended.

In the ad, Obama's former law professor, Laurence Tribe, praises Obama and speaks of his commitment to change and his ability to unite Republicans and Democrats.

Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee cited the definition of "campaigning" in the pledge - which prohibits public campaigning, high profile appearances and advertising, allowing only fundraising visits - saying it makes no difference if the ad is running nationwide. He said Clinton has run only state-level ads, and Obama could have done the same.

In the conference call, the Clinton backers said Obama is desperate for a good showing in Florida after losing New Hampshire, Nevada and, they contended, Michigan. Only Clinton was on the Michigan ballot, but Obama backers had urged voters to choose "uncommitted," and more chose Clinton.

The losses "compelled his campaign to sacrifice part of his integrity," said former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. "Your word ought to be your bond, whether it's politically convenient or not."

Clinton backers also accused Obama of "voter suppression" in Florida, saying Obama backers have told Floridians there's no need to vote in the primary because it will award no delegates.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded the campaign asked CNN whether Florida could be eliminated from the ad buy, but was told that was impossible.

He said Carol Fowler, the South Carolina party chairwoman, "told us unequivocally she did not consider this to be in violation of pledge made to the early states."

Evaluating The State's Role

Asked about the voter suppression accusations, Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, "If Wasserman Schultz or the Clinton campaign wants to produce any documentation, then we'll have something to respond to."

But Obama's campaign itself said recently the lack of delegates from Florida means the state is not "playing any role in deciding the Democratic nominee."

Even U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, who backs Obama, has said much the same thing. Recent news reports quoted him as noting, "This is a contest for delegates. ... There will be no delegates chosen in Florida."

Asked whether she thinks the argument could result in one or both candidates abandoning the pledge and coming to Florida for a frantic weekend of campaigning, Wasserman Schultz said, "It's too early to tell."

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com

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