TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Democrats on Thursday proposed a vote-by-mail presidential primary to solve the high-stakes delegate dispute while acknowledging the plan's chances are slim.
Democrats in Florida and Michigan have been struggling to come up with an alternative to ensure their delegates are seated at the national convention this summer after the party punished them for holding early primaries. The pressure to resolve the issue has increased amid the protracted fight for every delegate between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, offered a mail-in/in person proposal for voting and urged state leaders, the national party and the presidential candidates to sign on. Under the plan, all of Florida's 4.1 million Democrats would be mailed a ballot. They could send it back, or cast a ballot in one of 50 regional voting centers that would be set up. The election would end June 3, a week before a Democratic National Committee deadline to name delegates.
The estimated cost is $10 million to $12 million.
Asked if the plan will be implemented, Thurman said, "I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not, than yes." If the Democrats can't get the Michigan and Florida primaries right, How are they going to do health care? Hell, how are they going to get us out of the Iraq war? This just plain old politicking at it's best. Howard Dean is the one is messing this up for the Democrats. He could have seen this happening a mile away. But, he is to stubborn , and is made that these two states thumb their noses at him. Therefore, he is trying to press his power around , and, in the end looking like he is incompetent of his job. Do you blame the states? Do you blame Howard Dean? HOW WOULD YOU FIX THIS MESS, BEFORE IT TOTALLY DERAILS THE DEMOCRATS RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
Democrats in Florida and Michigan have been struggling to come up with an alternative to ensure their delegates are seated at the national convention this summer after the party punished them for holding early primaries. The pressure to resolve the issue has increased amid the protracted fight for every delegate between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, offered a mail-in/in person proposal for voting and urged state leaders, the national party and the presidential candidates to sign on. Under the plan, all of Florida's 4.1 million Democrats would be mailed a ballot. They could send it back, or cast a ballot in one of 50 regional voting centers that would be set up. The election would end June 3, a week before a Democratic National Committee deadline to name delegates.
The estimated cost is $10 million to $12 million.
Asked if the plan will be implemented, Thurman said, "I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not, than yes." If the Democrats can't get the Michigan and Florida primaries right, How are they going to do health care? Hell, how are they going to get us out of the Iraq war? This just plain old politicking at it's best. Howard Dean is the one is messing this up for the Democrats. He could have seen this happening a mile away. But, he is to stubborn , and is made that these two states thumb their noses at him. Therefore, he is trying to press his power around , and, in the end looking like he is incompetent of his job. Do you blame the states? Do you blame Howard Dean? HOW WOULD YOU FIX THIS MESS, BEFORE IT TOTALLY DERAILS THE DEMOCRATS RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
