Decision ‘08

Florida “Mail-In” Do-Over Close To Dead

Florida Democrats on Thursday proposed a vote-by-mail presidential primary to solve the high-stakes delegate dispute while acknowledging the plan’s chances are slim.

Democrats in Florida and Michigan have been struggling to come up with an alternative to ensure their delegates are seated at the national convention this summer after the party punished them for holding early primaries. The pressure to resolve the issue has increased amid the protracted fight for every delegate between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, offered a mail-in/in person proposal for voting and urged state leaders, the national party and the presidential candidates to sign on. Under the plan, all of Florida’s 4.1 million Democrats would be mailed a ballot. They could send it back, or cast a ballot in one of 50 regional voting centers that would be set up. The election would end June 3, a week before a Democratic National Committee deadline to name delegates.

The estimated cost is $10 million to $12 million.

Asked if the plan will be implemented, Thurman said, “I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not, than yes.”

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation reiterated their opposition to the plan, saying, “We do not believe that this is a realistic option at this time and remain opposed to a mail-in ballot election or any new primary election in Florida of any kind.”

Thurman will review comments from Democratic leaders and make a decision by Monday on whether to proceed with the re-vote. But she acknowledged that Obama has had concerns and the Democratic National Committee won’t support a proposal unless both candidates also back it. She said there’s a serious question over whether the state could legally verify the signatures of a privately run election.

“If this becomes something that we can’t do, then we can’t do it,” Thurman said.

Well, good. I’ve made my position known elsewhere at length, but briefly summarized, it is this: the rules were known, the rules were intentionally broken, and while the voters of Florida WERE disenfranchised, it was by their own state officials, who should bare the brunt of any lingering ill will. No one is fooled by what is going on here: Hillary supporters want this do-over because they need it to bring the popular vote close. It serves no other purpose…

4 Responses to “Florida “Mail-In” Do-Over Close To Dead”

1 too many steves Says:
March 13th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I first stipulate that all you say is true, then ask: why is this a bad thing? If Florida votes and the popular vote goes in Hillary’s favor then the will of the people, vis a vis the Democratic Party nominee, is better understood. Why isn’t that a good thing?
2 Mark Says:
March 13th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Because the campaigns didn’t have a level playing ground…Hillary campaigned in Floriday, and the other candidates didn’t, because the DNC asked them not to. You can’t take that history back. Would Hillary have won anyway? Yes, probably so…but smart though it may have been on her part, bad behavior should not be rewarded. When you run as a Democratic candidate, and not as an independent, you agree to play by the Democratic Party’s rules…
3 Aaron Says:
March 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I’m not so sure that the FL legislature will take too much punishment over this — at least not over this exclusively — since it was a GOP-controlled legislature and a GOP governor that signed off on the primary date and only the Democrats — who will likely be voting against the officials responsible anyway — will be very upset.

The Democrats are also worried that this will hurt them in FL in the general election as well. According to the RCP, McCain is trouncing both Democrats in FL (not that polls now will make much difference in November), beating Clinton by more than 5% and Obama by almost 10%.
4 too many steves Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am
See, here’s where you and I differ: the rules in this situation are irrelevant to the objective of picking the best nominee, and the argument that the rules are all that matters strikes me as pedantic.

But, I do agree that if a redo is to be done in Florida, then it must be open, honest, and fair. It must allow for both candidates to campaign and make their case to the voters in advance of any vote. If you are arguing that doing so is impossible, well, then, I’m not sure I agree but that is certainly a reasonable concern.