Mar 13, 2008 10:28 pm US/Eastern
A Florida Re-Vote Unlikely, Says Democatic Leader
Click Here To Read The PDF File Of The Democrat Revote Plan
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ―
Florida's state Democratic party chair says the proposed presidential primary do-over is unlikely to go forward because of concerns about the combined mail-in/in-person election procedure. Chairwoman Karen Thurman said Thursday in Tallahassee she will make a decision on the issue by Monday.
Under the plan being considered, ballots would be mailed to all registered Democratic voters and 50 regional voting offices would be set up to help "disadvantaged communities" participate in the election. A June 3rd deadline would be set for the mail in ballots.
CBS4's Michael Williams spoke to Florida House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, Democrat of Miami Beach, who feared a deadlock convention in Denver, and wants to consider how to get Florida delegate votes counted.
"There is no question that we must move quickly to deal with the dispute over Florida's Democratic presidential primary. Fingers have been pointed in every direction, but how we arrived at this breaking point is irrelevant. The stark reality is that all Democrats lose if this is not resolved immediately," state party Chairman Karen Thurman wrote in a memo that included a draft of the plan.
The state party would run the election, rather than the state. It would hire a private election management company, an accounting firm and security and would allow representatives from each campaign to observe. The state would be paid to verify ballot signatures.
If the plan receives the approval of the state party executive committee when they meet on April 12th, Florida Democratic party leaders would have to raise an estimated $10 million to $12 million to pay for the do-over.
A nine-person Democratic congressional delegation in Washington D.C. had voiced its opposition to the plan.
Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the delegation will work with the Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean on a solution. She said she will not change her mind about a mail-in vote, in part because seniors who spend the summer up North, poor residents who rent homes and often move and others could be left out.
"This is totally experimental," she said, adding Florida voters have been shaken by past election problems, including the 2000 presidential recount, and need their confidence restored. "Having a party-run election that's never been done before is not a way to do that."
The DNC ruled last year the results of the Florida primary would not be counted because it was moved up to January 29th. Florida Democrats in Tallahassee say a re-vote, or some other solution is needed, because of the close race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
State Senator Steve Geller, who originally opposed a mail in re-vote, said Wednesday he's ready to embrace it.
"What is more unacceptable to me," said Geller, "is our having no input at all. So if I have to choose between two bad choices, I'll choose the one that is the least objectionable and the one that 1.7 million Florida Democrats endorsed."
Under party rules, Florida and Michigan would have until June 10 to hold another vote.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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