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Mail-In Vote Unlikely To Get Key Support

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI and WILLIAM MARCH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 14, 2008

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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