Florida Democrats: 'Doing the right thing,' Jan. 29: The Swamp
The Swamp
Posted September 23, 2007 9:06 AM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva

Florida's Democratic Party leaders are ready to proclaim today that they will hold their presidential primary election on Jan. 29 despite the insistence of the Democratic National Committee that it will bar the state party's delegates from the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver next summer.

Several of the state party's leaders plan a press conference today at 3 pm EDT at the Southwest Focal Point Senior Center in Pembroke Pines to announce their stance. A party source confirms for the Swamp that the Florida Democrats will stick with their Jan. 29 vote.

The DNC had given the state party until Sept. 29 to agree to some sort of compromise -- say a caucus, or a vote by mail -- that would not violate the national party's rules that forbid anyone but Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding their presidential nominating contests in January. But Floridians aren't in a compromising mood.

"On Jan. 29, 2.5 million Floridians are going to go to the polls, and that's more telling than any caucus in Iowa," said Miami-Dade County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Garcia. "We'll be damned for it by some, but I think we're doing the right thing."

Karen Thurman, state party chairwoman and former congresswoman from Dunnelon, will be joined by Diane Glasser, first vice chairwoman and Carrie Meek, the former congresswoman from Miami and party vice chairman, at the press conference today.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Davie, state Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller of Hallandale, state House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber of Miami Beach and other state and local leaders also plan to appear today in a show of party force.

The Associated Press reports that the state party will stick with its Jan. 29 presidential primary even if it means losing all its nominating convention delegates, citing its own party source. And the Swamp confirmed that report this morning.

State party staff has been polling executive committee members and determined at least 75 percent support for the early primary, the source told the AP.

Broward County state committeewoman Diane Glasser, who also serves as state party first chair, said that she is fine with the decision as long as the state selects delegates in the event that they can go to the convention in Denver next summer.

"I'm not concerned with the DNC," she said.

The DNC Rules Committee voted last month to strip Florida of its 210 delegates if the state party held a primary before Feb. 5. Major Democratic presidential candidates have signed a pledge to restrict campaigning in Florida if it violates party rules.

That may mean candidates won't come to the state convention next month, but Garcia points out that high-profile supporters could replace them, such as New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's husband, former President Clinton.

"Who knows, we may get surprised and (Illinois Sen. Barack) Obama sends Oprah (Winfrey) down here," Garcia said.

Democratic Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before Feb. 5, except for Iowa on Jan. 14, Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29. Michigan has scheduled a Jan. 15 primary.

Florida's Republican Legislature voted last spring to set the Jan. 29 primary date, and Republican Gov. Charlie Crist signed it into law. In June, the state Democratic Party voted to go along with the date, saying it was the best chance to get as many people involved in the process as possible. It reaffirmed the vote in August.

Even though Florida won't have delegates at the nominating convention, party leaders felt that the Jan. 29 date will let the rest of the country know who the state supports one week before an expected 25 states go to the polls, including big prizes like California and New York.

The AP contributed to this report.

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Comments

And what do Florida Republicans think about the earlier primary? What does the RNC think?


RNC Bruce,

What time is the Florida Republican Party's press conference today?


The Florida Dems are smart for ignoring Howard Dean and holding the primary on January 29. Florida is warm in January they will have active primary voters in both GOP and Dem primaries.
I give the Florida Dems credit for sticking it to the liberals like Dean who want to dictate when and how to behave. With elitists liberals it's our way or the highway. I'm glad they are saying shove it.Jerry White, Springfield, IL


Jerry White,

Howard Dean didn't create the rules the DNC is enforcing.

BTW, the RNC has the same beef with the Florida Republican Party. The RNC has threatened the FRP with losing 1/2 its national delegates to the national convention in Minneapolis next year.

And who'd want to miss the opportunity to get their picture taken in the Larry stall at the Minneapolis Airport?


It is time to reduce the time that politicians can tell us how great they are and what great things they are going to do.

First, I propose that ALL [federal, state, city, local, tax referendums, ballot initiatives,etc.] take place the first Tuesday in Novemeber.

Second, the primary for each party would be the second Tuesday in September. Campaigns would begin June 1. Anyone campaigning before then would be fined $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Once the primaries are done, the candidates would then have two months to lie to us before we elected the elast worse of the liars.


Please support Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Organization so that we can seat the White House this Election???

I support President Clinton and Hillary Clinton because our Economy is struggling and our Deficit is @ an all time high right now and if I recall both of those issues were almost @ a stand still when They accompanied one another in the White House for 8 years as Commanders and Chiefs of this great nation. Right now is a pivotal moment and we literally have lost the Middle-Class in this Country, The Clinton's and they're organization have always made sure the middle class has flourished. I would like to voice my opinion about being a Voice that is Heard and not pushed aside by a bias media and perhaps even a bias democratic party, It is evidently clear that the media is "Forcing the Hands of The Democratic Party to throw the Clinton's out"
What they do not understand is that all they are accomplishing by doing so is guaranteeing a victory for the Republicans and John Mc Cain and here we go with another 4 years of Bush. Look the numbers speak for themselves. We agree that Mc Cain is going to be another Bush so simple mathematics will show if you go to the election of 2000 and 2004 you will see a trend of what states Bush Carried over Gore and Kerry. It is easy to see that Hillary has a lot of support in some of those states and Beat Obama in all of the "BIG" states with the biggest population and with the most electoral votes. Her support as she clearly keeps indicating amongst Blue Collar White Working Class voters is overwhelmingly in her favor, these are the votes you need in an election for President. She will continue to fight on for Florida and Michigan to be seated and that will help even the playing field. NO ONE I repeat NO ONE will have enough Electoral Votes to win this Election for the Democratic party So they do not have the right to give any credit to the Obama organization referencing a Win. The Super Delegates may not even Decide on this issue.
There is a simple Question rising right now and that is do you want a Democrat in office or a Republican??? The Democratic Party is going to have to come to terms with that Simple Question and if it is Democrat then they will have to Choose Hillary Clinton other wise we will loose the Nomination and I believe by staggering numbers considering what is out in the media right now about Barack Obama. Look @ the Hard facts and that is what Hillary Clinton is going to argue up until the end. The Party would have to be loosing they're Bearing's if they really think Obama stands a chance. Hillary go ahead and use that slogan by the way. I just want to end with a letter I sent the Clinton Organization Pleading with them as a Florida Voter and here it is,

The Math to get the Nomination" Read this Very Important

Listen I and my wife are Hillary supporters and so is my family and friends and we are all from Florida, Missouri, Indiana, New York, California, and Arizona. and we have held group meetings, made calls, and contributions and know you NEED this nomination. We need this Nomination and we NEED YOU Hillary Clinton to be our Candidate. I know the math is against us right now but we haven't given up and we know you will not either. I am no Rocket Scientist but I have figured out a way for the math to work for you to win in the election for the electoral votes needed. First off, and I know it's going to be a long shot but you have to win the endorsement of John Edwards and Get his 26 Delegate Count in your favor from him succeeding them to you in compliance with the democratic committee in agreeance. Maybe Bill can help you with this. also; You will need to carry West Va. , Kentucky, and Puerto Rico by an avg. of 70/30 split. not bad considering the demographics and latino favorable vote for you. You need a tie in South Dakota and Montana and Oregon. all of this will be contingent on you also getting Fl. where you should have about 61 delegates to Baracks 43 and you will need to also seat Michigan's votes but in order to do this you will need to give Barack the uncommitted votes of 237,762 you carried this state with 328,151 votes if you recall. that math is roughly 33/21 so you will still pick up delegates there. now furthermore you will need to and maybe most impressively win about 63% of the super delegates and Wham' you are the next democratic nominee. as far as I can see you have the tenacity and the backing of your name and all of us and many endorsements and of course poll victories to pull this off. tell them that 70 % of Obama supporters will vote for you even if Obama is out and only 48 % of our voters will vote for Barack or McCain come November. I, My wife, my family and friends happen to be those whom will either not vote or vote for Mc Cain if we are not heard and you are not seated. they are infringing on all of our rights to vote "it is our constitutional right to vote" Who do they think they are.? WE will Send a message to these people. It may cost them the Nomination all together and then Wham' another 4 years of BUSH with McCain. Please, I know you are trying everything you can but DO NOT allow them to throw you out. Stand your ground and keep up the fight. Your HillaryAholics stand behind you most when you are down and you fight back every time and that's precisely what your message should be from here on out and what you shall and will do from here on out. This I am confident of. The Republicans are hoping for Obama and routing for Obama so they can win this nomination.

Sincerely,

Your HillaryAholic Leader,

Kevin Poeling
Naples, Florida

Also, I will like to add to this a little bit on "The Math"

The States in just the last election won by Bush that Hillary should be a much better candidate in against McCain than Obama are West Va., Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, and even Arizona. These States were carried by Hillary Clinton in the race to the white house. The other States that were not won in 2004 by Bush but Obama might not be able to carry in this election against Mc Cain and Clinton more than likely will are California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and New Jersey. Look People I don't know about you but lets be real here. I mean just because you don't want to make this about RACE and hurt our African American (Which are Very Very important Votes) but they only make up 22.5 % of the total Democratic vote and lets see 87.6% of them are voting for Obama. that math equivalates to about 6,504,300.00 votes and what was the last poll? Oh yeah 70% of them said they would vote for Hillary. so lets see whats that #? o.k. its. 4,553,010 votes and so you subtract that from 6,504,300 and it is only 1,951,290 votes. Now lets do a little subject here. lets say that the poll that just came out held some weight in the upcomming election which it will.. now only 48% of Hillary supporters claimed they would vote for Obama. she has over 17,000,000 votes with Fl. and Mi. lets just say for argument sakes that number which is 8,160,000 votes. seems like an awfull lot of diffenece to throw the election on doesn't it? take 8,160,000 votes subtract the 1,951,290 votes and you have 6,208,710 votes difference. AND THAT MY FRIENDS WILL LOOSE US THE ELECTION RIGHT THERE. JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET A LITTLE HARSH WITH OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS AND TELL THEM WHAT THE REAL NUMBERS ARE OUT OF FEAR.
I for one am upposed to allowing this nation to be ruled by an incompetent nominee and an un experienced one who is tied up in all sorts of scandals and terrorist mentioning? what are we still even talking about and what has come over the American People? WAKE UP!!! Don't forget about what just happened to us in the last 8 years. We cannot afford to allow that to occur again.

VOTE HILLARY CLINTON or LOSE THE WHITEHOUSE


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