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Mail-In Vote Unlikely To Get Key Support
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Published: March 14, 2008
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TALLAHASSEE - Even as she outlined the details Thursday, the Florida Democratic Party chairwoman said a plan for a mail-in revote in the presidential primary seems unlikely to get the support to move forward.
Karen Thurman said in a news conference that the party won't proceed with the plan unless the presidential candidates and the people of Florida support it.
There were signs from the campaigns and some leading Democrats on Thursday that it wasn't getting that support.
"I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not than yes," she said when asked whether she thinks the support will be there.
Even while the likelihood of a Florida primary do-over appeared to be decreasing, the Associated Press reported late Thursday that Michigan Democrats are close to an agreement with presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to hold a do-over primary.
Michigan, like Florida, held a primary vote in January, violating national party rules. The Democratic National Committee has said it won't seat national convention delegations from either state based on those primaries.
Citing unidentified party officials, the AP said the Michigan party hopes an agreement can be reached today for an election paid for with private funds, the same way Florida Democrats would pay for their vote.
Thurman sent the draft proposal of the Florida mail-vote plan Wednesday night to state Democratic leaders, Clinton, Obama and national Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean. It's also on the party's Web site, www.fladems.com.
"We are simply putting on the table what I believe to be the only solution that we can provide from the state party," Thurman said.
Congressional Democrats Oppose Revote
The hurdles it faces are substantial.
Despite attempts by Sen. Bill Nelson and the state party to persuade them, the nine Democrats in the Florida congressional delegation issued a second joint statement Thursday opposing the plan - the first came Tuesday night, before the draft was issued.
"We do not believe that this is a realistic option" and "remain opposed to a mail-in ballot election or any new primary election in Florida of any kind," said the congressional members, who include four Clinton supporters, two Obama supporters - including Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa - and three who haven't taken public positions.
Obama continued to oppose the idea in comments to reporters on his campaign plane, according to a transcript from the campaign.
He repeated his criticism that it would be logistically difficult, and cited the Congress members' opposition. "It wasn't just me, it was the entire Florida House delegation, including Clinton supporters, who expressed concern about it."
A Clinton campaign spokesman said only that the campaign will look at all options for revotes in Florida and Michigan, and "We'll be reviewing this one as well."
Gov. Charlie Crist helped Democrats overcome one potential sticking point Thursday. Meeting with Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, he pledged the assistance of the Secretary of State's Office in verifying voter signatures.
Despite contrary statements from the department during the day, Crist said he has the authority as to tell the secretary's office to make voter signature files available.
State House Speaker Marco Rubio, however, remained adamantly opposed to any state involvement, even if Democrats foot the bill.
Calling it "ridiculous," Rubio said it "sets a horrible precedent for the future - where you're going to have party bosses from either party coming down to Florida when they don't like the outcome or they don't like the election date and forcing us to vote again."
The cost could reach $12 million, which the party would raise from private donors. Much of the money would go to pay a private company to conduct the election.
Voters not registered as Democrats prior to Dec. 31 couldn't participate unless they were recent arrivals.
Deadline For Proposal Is Likely Monday
Thurman said she will review responses from the candidates and other Democrats by Monday, and decide whether to take the next step: proposing a new plan, including the mail-in vote, for choosing Florida delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The plan would need state and national party approval.
Otherwise, she said, the party will look at the options left - appealing to have the national party seat Florida's delegates based on the Jan. 29 primary, or finding a compromise in which the candidates would agree on how to apportion delegates.
Democrats have been discussing possible compromises for weeks. News reports late Thursday said party insiders were discussing one possible compromise in which Florida's delegates would be seated according to the Jan. 29 primary, but would have only half a vote each.
Party officials say that at this late date, the mail-in proposal is probably the last option for a revote. If Democrats do not agree to the plan by Monday, "It's probably dead," party spokesman Mark Bubriski said.
Bubriski said the party won't disclose the reactions it receives to the plan, but said Thurman "had a good conversation" Thursday morning with Dean. "He's positive they could come to a resolution."
If the party acts on the plan after this weekend's input from Democrats, a formal 30-day public comment period will begin Monday.
Then it would go to the state executive committee, the governing body of the state party, and then to the national Democrats' Rules and Bylaws Committee.
Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski @tampatrib.com. Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( tsimpson ) on March 14, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ummm, Crist must be laughing himself silly. Doesn't anyone remember that the Republican legislature and governor moved the primary so that it would be 100% penalized by the DNC but only 50% penalized by the RNC?
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on March 14, 2008 at 3:56 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Dolphin68 ) on March 14, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The one who started all this mess was Marco Rubio (a Republican) and Governor Crist (Republican) approving it. I believe it was his/their political agenda from the beginning. And look, their party only got stripped of half the delegates. Hmmmm. Since I DID NOT VOTE for Crist, I believe that if Jim Davis was elected our governor, he would not have changed the date of the primary to January 29. Go figure folks.
Why is Rubio adamant about re-vote? If a re-vote does happen and the candidates or a private party wants to fund it, then why not have it. I fully agree that a re-vote should be done in Michigan since it was Obama himself that took his name off the ballot. Nobody forced him to do that. It was his choice. Both candidates were on the Florida ballot and Hillary was clearly the winner.
I think the primary results should stand as is and the delegates be counted. Is the winner of the primary in Florida supposed to be "winner take all" or does that only apply to the RNC rules? Not sure on that one. If it is winner take all, then Hillary would be in first place.
I am really sick and tired of hearing Obama state consistently that he is in the lead and his arrogance is getting on my nerves. Technically, if you count the Florida and Michigan delegates, he is NOT the leader in this contest. The saying goes, if you hear it long enough, you eventually believe it to be true. NOT!!!
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Posted by ( infamousstyles ) on March 14, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
obama being arrogant? talk about the pot calling the kettle black. first it was supposed to be over on super tuesday..then it was supposed to be over when she won texas and ohio...now its supposed to be over after PA. I mean seriously hillary clinton has been the most arrogant candidate in this election.
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Posted by ( ad ) on March 14, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
There will be no revote. This is like the Hillsborough County Commission. Lots of noise, but nothing of substance ever happens.
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Posted by ( Issywise ) on March 14, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What kind of electoral system asks the candidates permission to allow the voters to cast ballots?
After a lifetime, I've come to realize that the Democratic Party is anything but democratic.
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Posted by ( SpanishInquisition ) on March 14, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Tsimpson - Dolphin...time to look at current events!
On Jan. 23, 2007 Rep. David Rivera (R-Miami) filed HB 537 (co-sponsored by six Democrats) a bill to move the presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February or the first Tuesday immediately following the New Hampshire presidential preference primary, whichever occurs first. The final bill covered a range of topics ranging from third party voter registration to "requiring all voting to be by mark sense ballot" (optical scan machines). The bill also dropped the connection to the date of New Hampshire's primary and set the defined date of the last Tuesday in January. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 37-2 on April 27 and the House voted 118-0 in favor on May 3. On May 21, 2007 Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed the bill to move the date of state's presidential primary to from the second Tuesday in March to the last Tuesday in January.
Hmmm, let’s see. According to MoveonDotDem reasoning 37-2 is a tie and 118-0 appears to be a razor-thin plurality. Could it be true that those crazed, gun-toting Republicans marched the Democrats into the Legislature and forced them at gunpoint to vote for their narrow victory?
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Posted by ( fngmoe ) on March 14, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Florida and Michigan better find a way to let their Democratic voters take part in the nomination or the Democrats may lose the presidential election.
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Posted by ( ad ) on March 14, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It is interesting, but the Democratic Party of Florida and Michigan signed a pledge not to move their Primary dates. They knew the penalty if they did.
They made their bed, now lie in it. I am, by the way, an Independent, who votes mainly Democrat.
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Posted by ( Major7th ) on March 14, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is this a Joke, are the Democrats really that stupid, wait I guess they are after all look at what they have running. Hilary should be in Jail for that Whitewater Crap, but her hubby was Pres. now she wants hi job. This really isn't funny, it's down right scary.
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Posted by ( Dolphin68 ) on March 14, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey Major7th, no we Democrats are not stupid. If anyone should be in prison, it is our current President. Are you totally out of touch with reality? Look at what he has done to our country and all the laws his Administration and his cronies have broken. It is nowhere near what happened during the Clinton Administration. I WELCOME ANOTHER CLINTON TO THE WHITE HOUSE!!! Looks like the Democrats have to clean up the mess Republicans made (AGAIN). Get your head out of the sand!!
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Posted by ( mcgreen ) on March 14, 2008 at 11:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The issue with moving the primary early was a known issue - we can vote all we want but our votes weren't going to count. Changing the rules after the agreement was made is just stupid. I don't like it but then we get a chance to vote out the foolish politicians who made our state look bad. And yes, I know the republicans brought it up and the democrats went along with it.
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