Imagine you are a Florida Democrat; your state has a Republican primary that will likely tip Super Tuesday and the GOP nomination for the winner in Florida. But the Democratic primary has no delegates and therefore inconsequential, and all candidates vowed not to campaign in the state. Would you like to have some say in the nomination? Upset at losing your delegates?
Then, the day before the vote or the day of the vote, you learn Hillary Clinton will be visiting the state after the polls close. Who would you throw your vote to?
Would that really make a difference? Let's ask Mark Penn, quoted by Nico Pitney in this HuffoPo article:
"But any momentum seemed to run out today," Clinton strategist Mark Penn countered in a memo emailed to reporters Tuesday evening. "[A]mong those who decided on Election Day, a plurality of those chose Hillary."
So when did Florida voters learn Hillary would be visiting? On the day of the voting, the Tampa Tribune says she announced her visit 2 days before, which would have taken a day to hit the newsstands.
But Clinton not only announced the visit Sunday - two days before the primary - but also has been calling key Florida Democrats seeking their support.
...
Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee denied the announcement of her appearance was an attempt to influence votes. He said the visit was announced beforehand "for logistical reasons" and because reporters were asking when Clinton would come here.
I'll bet. How about the Orlando Sentinel on primary day:
Anticipating a Florida win, Clinton plans an appearance tonight in Davie -- her first public campaign event since she, Obama, Edwards and other Democratic candidates pledged not to campaign here.
I'm not saying that Hillary's visit won the primary, but I am saying that this is why Obama's momentum was stopped on the last day, according to exit polls quoted by Mark Penn.
So from now on, there is no doubt, Hillary Clinton did campaign (at the last minute) in Florida. For Hillary supporters: imagine if the roles were reversed, the Clinton campaign would be afire that Obama was desperate and broke his pledge.
UPDATE: I am simply disproving the spin about Obama's momentum being stopped on the last day, according to Mark Penn. His momentum was stopped (on the last day) because Hillary planned an event there, supporting their delegate-less primary. That's it. She still won handily. Florida gets CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News so there was ample opportunity for Obama to attract more votes than he did. I think I lost the focus of the diary, which was the spin from Mark Penn.