Fla. Dem. Party Statement on Revote Possibility

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman issued the following statement today on the state of the Democratic nominating process as it relates to Florida:

Over the hump.

"The Democratic primary gets more exciting by the day. The incredible enthusiasm for these two phenomenal candidates for President continues to prove that America wants a new direction - not a third Bush term with McCain.

"We thank Governors Crist and Granholm for supporting the effort to have the votes of more than five million Democrats and Republicans from Florida and Michigan recognized. In Florida, more than 1.75 million Democrats voted, and they deserve to be heard.

"Obviously, these primaries are the talk of the political world, and some are even suggesting that Florida hold a run-off election between the top two Democratic primary vote-getters, which happen to be Senators Clinton and Obama. However, this is not a time to panic or jump to any conclusions simply because the Republicans have a nominee.

"It is important to remember that the Democratic nominating process does not end until June 10. The Florida Democratic Party continues to work with our leadership, Sen. Clinton, Sen. Obama and the Democratic National Committee to ensure this state is fully represented at the National Convention.

"We have discussed many things, ranging from the plans for the general election to a potential alternative primary to the process for appealing to the credentials committee of the National Convention to seat our delegates as currently allocated.

"It is important that we are clear about one issue. At this time, no suggested alternative process has been able to meet three specific and important requirements: the full participation from both candidates, a guaranteed commitment of the millions of dollars it will cost to conduct the event and a detailed election plan that would enfranchise all Florida Democrats, including our military service members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"The Florida Democratic Party cannot consider any alternative that does not meet these requirements. Indeed, it is very possible that no satisfactory alternative plan will emerge, in which case Florida Democrats will remain committed to seating the delegates allocated by the January 29th primary.

"We continue to move ahead with preparations for an unprecedented coordinated general election campaign. The people of Florida, like most Americans, are eager for change - not more of the same from McCain - and in November, we will make the Democratic nominee the next President of the United States of America."

Bottom line - We're not doing it unless someone else pays for it.

Ben Smith at Politico:

[I]f this is down to haggling over money — the cost of a vote-by-mail primary is expected to be about $5 million — that suggests it's going to happen.

HuffPost Version of same info.

•  My vote is for

  this damn thing to be over now.

  by Tally on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:03:13 PM PDT

•  Fine

  I'll chip in. I'd rather have a run-off anyway, since I'm almost positive that would benefit both the Florida Democratic Party and Barack Obama immensely.

  Mutatis mutandis for Michigan.

  by maxomai on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:08:23 PM PDT

•  I've heard the costs estimated

  to be as high as $25 million for FL alone. Anyone know whose numbers are reliable?

  by Bob Love on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:08:57 PM PDT

  •  I have heard $18-20 mil.

    But I do not know how reliable the numbers are.

    by beemerr90s on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:10:09 PM PDT

  •  That's for a primary.

    I'm quoting the cost of a total mail in vote.

    by Tally on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:11:44 PM PDT

    •  Yanno

      the friggin' GOP and FL Dem Party decided to have a non-primary.  If they want one now, let them pay for it.  EOS

      by pvlb on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 04:19:00 PM PDT

•  I want a vote, but

  I do not expect one.

  That said, if we do, will there be a cutoff for registration changes to keep us from having Limbaugh-style Publican shenanigans?  I've never changed registration and I don't know the rules.

  by beemerr90s on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:09:18 PM PDT

  •  They could just use the existing

    registration.

    by Tally on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:12:43 PM PDT

•  As an Edwards voter...

  in the FL primary, I will accept nothing less than either a re-vote, or not seating the current delegates.

  It is the only fair way... If I had known at the time that my vote WOULD count, I would have voted Obama (as much as I liked Edwards).

  by weelzup on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:16:06 PM PDT

  •  I agree

    Someone suggested the candidates both chip in half of the costs from their campaign chests, but I don't know if that's even legal.
    I wouldn't mind my donations to the campaign going to help defray the cost of a do-over.
    It's fair to the candidates and to the voters.

    by skohayes on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:53:06 PM PDT

•  This is Irresponsible

  The DNC does not have as much money as the RNC - if it spending it on this election, that is all the less money it has to fight in November.

  Come on Florida and Michigan - do the right thing. Pony up for fucking up.

  by turthlover on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:17:11 PM PDT

  •  The DNC would not pay

    it would be Florida that would pay.

    by mdsiamese on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:24:35 PM PDT

  •  The largely Publican FL legislature

    is not going to pay for a Dem revote.  Not a chance in hell.  Either another way has to be found, or we can accept that we don't get to vote.  (Well, we can also piss and moan about it.  I promise to do my share.)

    by beemerr90s on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:37:29 PM PDT

•  Karen Thurman

  may well be the world's biggest ascclown.

  by Mia Dolan on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:20:18 PM PDT

•  The caucus process in Colorado

  costs about $3 per caucus day participant, depending on how you account for costs, which does not use any public dollars.  

  Some of that is recouped by hat passing at the caucus and at subsequent steps on the long path to the DNC, and some by other political party fundraising.

  by ohwilleke on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:34:13 PM PDT

•  Florida is in the economic doledrums and is Not

  going to pay for a do-over, period!

  Homeowners crying for property tax and insurance relief won't stand for THEIR money being spent on a do-over.

  What Insurance that is available is astronomical in price because among others...

  State Farm, the largest private insurance company in Florida, will stop writing new homeowner policies anywhere in the state.

  by Mr SeeMore on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:42:14 PM PDT

  •  OT

    My parents in Ft Myers got a letter from State Farm two days before Christmas telling them that their homeowners insurance was being cancelled.
    Buttheads.

    by skohayes on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:55:44 PM PDT

    •  I got a call from State Farm.

      They said I was not living in the house, therefore were cancelling me.  The local office straightened it out, but that tells you how much they value my 25 years of customer loyalty.  I'm tempted to just cancel them.

      by beemerr90s on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 04:02:44 PM PDT

      •  Homeowners

        dropped like a rock.

        by Tally on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 09:06:23 AM PDT

•  Crist is a Repub, Granholm's a Clinton supporter.

  Both want the delegates seated as-is.  Now, that said, it's not going to happen.  Knowing that both Crist and Granholm both want Hillary to stay in this race as long as possible, let's consider the options.

  Caucus -- advantage: Obama.  Popular vote count is nonexistent as well meaning no change either way (explaining why Obama's delegate lead is so small).  Cost: low.

  New Primary -- advantage: even.  Obama gets time to campaign, trends show Obama closes the gap pretty well (in Texas, 20+ to 3 points), but Clinton's got the name recognition.  Also, you can see a change in popular vote gaps.  Cost: 18 million.

  Mail-in Primary -- advantage: even.  See "New Primary."  Cost: not as high as New Primary.

  Watch to see how these two respond to the various ideas.  Know which ones they're pushing for.

  by NotablyZen on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 03:44:28 PM PDT

•  How About This?

  Obama should pledge to put up $5,000,000 to helped conduct a new primary if Hillary and the DNC will match the amount? In the interest of fairness to Florida, of course.

  by Tuba Les on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 05:05:56 PM PDT

  •  Clinton has

    recently been quoted:

    with respect to Florida the Democrats were dragged into doing what they did by a Republican governor and a Republican Legislature. They didn't have any choice whatsoever. And I don't think that there should be any do-over or any kind of a second run in Florida. I think Florida should be seated.

    by Tally on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 09:10:20 AM PDT