Consensus Nears For Mail-In Revote In Florida

AP via Los Angeles Times:

A consensus began to emerge today that the best way to give Florida's Democrats a voice in electing a candidate for president lies with the U.S. Postal Service.

The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida and Michigan of all their convention delegates -- a total of 313 -- for holding their primaries too early, making both contests meaningless. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won both states, but no delegates. Her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, did not appear on Michigan's ballot.

But the disqualification of Florida and Michigan has created a headache for the Democratic party due to the unexpected closeness of the race between Obama and Clinton. Officials from both states are trying to figure out how best to resolve the issue before the national convention in August.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said a mail-in primary is "actually a very good process."

"Every voter gets a ballot in the mail," the former Vermont governor said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "It's comprehensive, you get to vote if you're in Iraq or in a nursing home. It's not a bad way to do this."

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Read the whole story: AP via Los Angeles Times

Comments

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

I can see a need for a re-vote in MI. But, not FL.

The voters in FL had legitimate reasons for voting in the primaries. There were other issues on their ballots than just the dem primary. And, 1.7 million people showed up to vote. In fact with a re-vote, many people who participated because of those other issues may not bother to vote a second time.

The candidates may not have campaigned there, except for Obama's TV commercials, but do you think the people of FL didn't get to see the 374 debates they have had starting a year ago? Do you suppose they don't get TV coverage every night of all the campaigns? Do they have newspapers and internet connections in FL? Doesn't FL get CNN, MSNBC, FOX and all the other stations so they could hear all about Hillary's laugh and Obama's speeches? You know all that important coverage we have all been subjected to. Hell, I live in NC and my primary is still a long way off. But, I'm pretty sure I know what's going on and don't need a local rally, a mailbox full of misleading fliers and robo-calls to make a decision.

[Obama08Supporter]

Absolutely, this will only add gas to the fire. This is horrible. I am a Floridan and it seems to me that if we broke the rules then we should pay the price.

I am no for mail in ballots especially under these circumstances. NO WAY! I think we all need to start putting together a protest team in South Florida and Michigan. This is not what we need.

Also, will the candidates come to Florida to campaign, Clinton is well known, Obama is not and it would be unfair to have a mail in ballot and not an opportunity to meet the candidates and hear what their positions are. It seems to me that this is only a problem because the Clintons, who knew exactly what they were agreeing to is not attempting to steal an elections just like the republicans in 2004!

What a shame! I am so ashamed to be a democrate right now. However, if this election is stolen out of the hands of Obama, who has won and is a head of the Clintons, then they will pay dearly for this.

This is not just another presidential race, it is a movement toward making a better America and we will not sit back and let this happen again while we go to our rooms and cry. Oh NO! I think America is about to see what Civil war looks like on its own grounds. This is not a threat, just an observation of the dedication and determination to bring about change!

We do not want to see a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket as the media would like you to think. We want Obama and someone with experience, integrity, and less baggage. Someone who is not so polarizing, someone that is not divisive like Hillary Clinton and someone we can truly trust.

Obama 2008

[dthom7171]

It's is beyond amazing to see what the news media has been doing and is doing. They've pushed, on Hillary's behalf, for delegates that were stripped from participation,and playing any role, to having stripped delegates play a role. It is amazing. This woman is crazy. I dont blame Obama for this because, no matter what he says, he won't get covered in the MSM. From the presidential library to her tax returns to everything . She hasn't been vetted. She's the one who has the free ride. She's always complaining about the media but Barack has never attacked her. I cant even remember a negative story about her. And CNN needs to be stopped. Somebody needs to put something together, some type of website and I guarantee there will be support.

[srtjsrtj]

The Republican party lost 50% of their delegates and no one not even the Gov complained that the 50% that lost their seats and the Florida voters were being disenfranchised. The Republican party made a decision and the rest of the party simply fell in line with the rules. The Democratic Party has absolutely no discipline, they just simply turn their rules into a conversation with any and everybody and le the media, politicians and pondits tell them how to change their rules. That;s why the DNC has not been effective to date. It will not be unless and until it learns discipline and let everyone know the rules are the rules and that's the end of it. If the Democratic delegates must be seated as everyone keeps telling us then why did the Republicans complain about seating their delegates before John McCain became their nominee. Clearly there still at least 3 Republicans in the race and no one complained. That's because the Republican party has discipline. Perhaps the DNC can learn from the RNC that you don't make rules and break them when one candidate is just not satisfied with the rules even though they agreed to the rules going into the process. UM?

[rmetz74]

BIG FYI:

The 2025 number needed to clinch is based on the assumption that FL and MI's delegates weren't going to count, so if they ARE seated according to a revote (or for any other reason), the 2025 number goes UP accordingly. This makes it harder for HRC to overcome Obama's lead, and takes some influence away from these re-races.

So these races are not quite as critical as everyone is making them out to be. Everyone relaaaaaaaax.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030802664.html?hpid=topnews

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Math isn't really your strong suit is it?

Oh and while we're at it. All the Super Delegates for FL and MI were stripped as well. So, if they re-instate these two, the Super Delegates get back in too. I think between the two states there are 21 Supers. And, Hillary has been supporting their cause, Obama has not. Don't you think she will pick up most of those 21 Super Delegates?

[slr51]

Why is Howard Deans; picture so orange?

I suspect a Clinton conspiracy.

[Xander]

Here's the thing about mail-in: It works wonderfully if it's done right. I live in Oregon and that's the only way you CAN vote. It works.

But the problem is, Florida and the people in power in Florida have already shown themselves to be corrupt and dirty. There is NO WAY that a mail-in vote doesn't end up tainted down there, and it will be tainted for Hillary because that's who the GOP wants to get the Democratic nod.

[jadez]

"every voter gets a ballot"

how are they determining who is a voter?

republicans too?

what about first time voters?

what about the people illegally purged from the rolls who never will get a ballot?,if they use that to determine ballots


this whole thing is open to fraud.
what prevents someone from dumping sacks of mail that come from black districts?

where is the outrage from Obamas camp??

this whole thing was pushed by a republican governor and clinton hacks
and it smells.

[bajaboy]

Have you ever heard about a little thing known as voter registration records? Oh, and the dumping of sacks of mail from black districts? The postal system doesn't work that way. Mail goes to central processing depots that handle mail from extremely large areas, combining mail from incredibly diverse demographics in one big shipment. Unless you're suggesting this conspiracy includes the hundreds of thousands of individual postal workers, as well?

[kellygrrrl]

just give Hillary 60% of FLA and give Obama 40%

then give Obama 60% of MI and give Hillary 40%

There, problem solved.

[SlithyTove]

1. Does this mean that Republicans will get to vote as well, and perpetuate the Texas-Limbaugh effect? What precautions is the DNC taking to avoid this?

2. A mail-in ballot will disadvantage certain groups (blacks, Haitians, etc). What thought has been given to this, and to minimizing that impact?

3. Will the DNC pay for postage so as not to disenfranchise the poor or the disorganized?

[teamster4obama]

Mail in???? I want party members who are willing to get off their asses and do something to have an influence on the outcome. Put a postcard in the mail? Hey Howard, why not just do an internet poll then? This has fraud written all over it. The rules were set, everyone agreed. If they are so set on representation split the numbers in half. Half the delegates to Hillary, half to Obama. No fraud. No extra cost. Everyones happy, including me. Obama's delegates need to make some calls to the DNC and say "what the hell Howard". Is Howard Dean really as mad as his enthusiastic yelling makes him out to be?

[Dazedandamazed]

So all voters will get a ballot. Even those who have already voted for McCain, Huckabe, and Guido. Those who voted in the Republican primary will now get to vote in the Democratic Primary. Sorry I see a problem with this. If you are going to do a do over in either state then ballots should only be sent to registered Democrats. The republicans should not be allowed to vote in both primaries!

[rmetz74]

I don't understand what people are getting upset about. It's GOOD that FL and MI are going to have a re-vote, no matter who wins (and I'm an Obama supporter.­) It would be terrible for voters in two states to go unheard in a national primary, just because their a-hole governors don't know how to play fair. This is in accordance with DNC rules, it's a compromise both sides can live with (when last week they were miles apart)... It's not perfect, but it's a pretty damned good solution, given the circumstances.

The previous votes are no indication of what will happen this time... Obama wasn't even on the ballot in MI, so no one has any idea how he'll do there, and in FL a) a lot of voters have said they stayed home because they knew the vote didn't count, and b) there's a been a LOT of campaigning and debating since then... A lot of people may have changed their minds.

And yes, the state parties should pay for it (if the states themselves refuse.) It's their fault they're in this situation in the first place.

[blackrome]

If Obama had loss 11 straight primaries and he was in Hillary's position would any of this be happening.

How do you win 2 out of 15 primaries and still be in it.

She's going to hijack the process and destroy the party.

Rendell was sickening on MTP.

If they pull it off Hillary will have an approval rating rivaling Bush.

She won't win.

[Manni]

The Obamaites are afraid of peoples vote!

Ha!