One of the leading proposals for "re-vote" in Florida's Democratic Primary, a second primary by mail ballot, which had apparently been picking up steam, has begun to fizzle, reports Martin Merzer, Lesley Clark, and Mary Ellen Klas for the Miami Herald:
Florida law prohibits election officials from authenticating votes cast in the Democratic Party's proposed do-over primary by mail, state officials said Thursday, a potentially fatal blow to the increasingly embattled plan.''There's no authority under Florida law that would allow county supervisors of election or the state to verify signatures in an election of a state party,'' said Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for Florida's secretary of state and Division of Elections.
Verifying the identity of anyone who votes by mail -- either through a conventional absentee ballot or in the Florida Democrats' proposed and unprecedented statewide mailed election -- is considered a key bulwark against electoral fraud.
Read the whole story at the link above. So, state officials can't verify the signatures for a mail ballot, nobody seems willing to pay the cost (the estimate having risen to about $12 million), and both the Clinton and Obama campaigns oppose it. Other than that . . .
The problem with "do-overs" in Florida and Michigan is an intractable one. The DNC will not impose any solution that 1) it has to pay for, or 2) is not supported or at least acquiesced to, by both leading contenders. The two campaigns' interests are diametrically opposed in this case, though. Hillary won both primaries, and has no reason to agree to any solution which fails to recognize that fact. Particularly in Florida, all candidates were on the ballot and none campaigned in the state (by agreement with the DNC).
Obama, on the other hand, has no reason to agree to any solution which allows those delegates to be seated for Hillary. His campaign will only allow the sort of "re-vote" which might favor him, such as caucuses. Forging a compromise solution between the two camps would require leadership skills orders of magnitude beyond those Howard Dean possesses.
Therefore, the controversy will likely be settled at the convention by the Credentials Committee. Since neither campaign will command a majority of delegates going in, they will not be able to control any of the committees. Super delegates will make the decision - and which way they decide will be our first clue as to which candidate will win the nomination.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
2008 Presidential Race, Democrats, Florida, Legal action, Primaries
Tags: convention, Democratic presidential campaign, DNC, Florida Democratic primary
Comments (6)
The obvious solution is to ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 13, 2008 5:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The obvious solution is to hold a caucus which can be counted by the party itself and not involve the state.
Better yet is to just admit the Florida delegation but cut their size in half like the Republicans did. Can't do that for Michigan because Obama wasn't on the ballot. For them they should just split the delegates 50-50, cut the delegation in half and admit it. The polls show Michigan should be a toss-up anyway.
None of this will make any difference to the end-result because Obama still has a lead of about 160 delegates which he has expanded over the last two weeks contrary to the media's relentless spin about Hillary's resurrection. The pressure should start to mount for her to drop about after Pennsylvania when it will be even more obvious that it's hopeless for her.
1. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 13, 2008 5:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 17:46
2. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 13, 2008 6:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
From Mark Halperin. Pretty much what I suggested.
This kind of screws Obama because I think he could close the 17-point gap in Florida and probably beat her by a slim margin in Michigan. But no matter, he can spare the 20 delegates or so because she's so far behind.
2. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| March 13, 2008 6:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 18:44
3. Posted by sam | March 13, 2008 6:48 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Every day, it is becoming clearer that Obama is in over his head. Hillary has just started dismantling him, and will continue to do so, piece by piece, till the PA primary. Yesterday, it was the whole race kerfuffle with Ferraro (does anyone believe that this is not a deliberate ploy by the Clinton campaign to drive up their white vote margin in PA and other places?). Today, it is his association with his church and his pastor (does anyone believe that this "vetting" was not prompted by the Clinton campaign?). By the time the PA primary rolls along, you will not be able to recognize the Obama of February. Clinton will paint him as the kookier version of Al Sharpton (you can read Mickey Kaus in Slate today, "the Jessie-fication of Obama").
This 6-week primary breather is just what Hillary needed to implement her strategy. (1) Dismantle Obama, (2) Win the popular vote, and (3) Hold off the super-delegates till she is done with 1 and 2.
3. Posted by sam | March 13, 2008 6:48 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 18:48
4. Posted by Jim Addison | March 13, 2008 7:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Last poll I saw showed Clinton expanding her lead in Pennsylvania to 15% - 52-37.
4. Posted by Jim Addison | March 13, 2008 7:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 19:46
5. Posted by bryanD | March 13, 2008 10:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"Therefore, the controversy will likely be settled at the convention by the Credentials Committee."-ja
Correct. And the members of the credentials committee will choose Obama in order to maintain their individual prospects within the party because being in the avant-garde is a Democratic party precept. (And the Howard Dean organization is anti-Hillary, not to mention Princess Caroline K's and Oprah's salon)
The only variable of note is "elderly Clinton supporters". Of course, ECVs will vote "D" no matter what (anyway), so scratch "variable". That's why I say it's Obama's contest to lose. The Hillary Vote is convertible to Obama 98%; vice versa? 80%. Give or take.
With money on the line, "Why take the chance?", said Vito to Luigi.
5. Posted by bryanD | March 13, 2008 10:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 22:10
6. Posted by Scrapiron | March 13, 2008 10:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
What's the problem. Democrat voters don't select their candidate, the super delegates do it for them. Does anyone see a problem with these retards running the country?
6. Posted by Scrapiron | March 13, 2008 10:22 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 13, 2008 22:22