The following piece was produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus project.
Spousal support may mean many things to different people - but in Florida politics, it has nothing to do with alimony.
It's the latest terminology to come out of the debacle in Florida's attempt to defy the Democratic National Committee and hold a Jan. 29 primary, much earlier than the DNC and its Iowa-New Hampshire-South Carolina-Nevada allies want.
Spouses of the Democratic candidates - with their better-halves signatories to a DNC-induced pledge not to campaign in the Sunshine State - are now the latest weapons in running a "shadow campaign."
Most of the candidates agree the DNC mandate that the state holds the primary after Feb. 5 is ridiculous. Insofar as fund-raising is involved no campaign rallies or headquarters are to be visible.
And almost every Florida elected official calls the DNC action - a threat not to seat the state's delegates - ludicrous.
Volunteers are now running their own campaigns out of their homes, and fund-raising via the Internet is full speed ahead from out-of-state locations.
And, now, the latest surrogates to come to Florida are the spouses. From what we can learn, there is no objection to an Aspiring First Lady or First Gentleman to attend events, book signings, receptions, pass out bumper stickers and yard signs, to be interviewed by the Sunshine State media or to making news himself or herself.
Aspiring First Gentleman/ former President Bill Clinton has been especially visible in interviews and at receptions. He even made state-wide front pages in the media when he announced that Florida was getting a new solar power plant. The announcement was made by Clinton - with Republican Gov, Charlie Crist and Florida Power & Light 's chief executive Lew Hay at his side -- at the beginning of the Clinton Global Initiative Conference in New York Thursday, but its focus was clearly toward the Florida media who scooped up the announcement on its "clean energy program" with major stories and editorials. No presidential politics was mentioned, but the visibility for the Clinton name was as total as the promise to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
It was also confirmed that President Clinton was invited - along with several First Lady Wannabees - to appear at the state party convention next month in Orlando. Although party leaders are still mum on the invitation list, everyone suspects that it would be tough not to invite Michelle Obama or Elizabeth Edwards - both of whom have had huge turnouts here - and if that happens, you can expect invitations for the wives of Gov, Bill, Richardson (Barbara), Sen. Chris Dodd (Jackie), Sen. Joe Biden (Jill), Rep, Dennis Kucinich (Elizabth) and ex-Sen. Mike Gravel (Whitney). The state convention looks like it might be a free-for-all for the First Wives' Club (plus the star power of President Clinton).
Clinton got a turnout of 1,000 people for a recent book signing in Coral Gables, just one of many stops in Florida, and then reportedly went to a fundraiser for his wife.
In the meantime, the other spouses are making regular stops in Florida, as well. John Edwards' wife may or may not be asking for money for her husband's campaign but she is making big points and raising big cash for breast cancer research in a multi-city swing through Florida. Her next stop is Oct. 4 in St. Petersburg. She had huge turnouts in vote-rich Broward (Fort Lauderdale) county and Jacksonville.
Cancer research director Robert Sherman has been quoted as saying that most of the comments on Elizabeth Edwards appearances are "that they admire her for carrying on in spite of illness." He stressed that everyone knows someone with breast cancer "and can relate to her. "
Mrs. Obama (also an attorney, like Mrs. Edwards) did a recent campaign swing covering Miami, Palm Beach, and Jacksonville and got good receptions.
The DNC may yet change its mind about having Democratic candidates campaign in person. After all, how can the party ignore one of the largest states - a state which needs to vote Blue?
Much more is ahead in the enduring saga of Florida's primary calendar and its offshoot. A future president may yet be allowed to campaign in one of the major population sites, rich with its campaign money and voting machine controversies.
In the meantime, leave it to the un-named volunteers to run a shadow campaign with spousal support.
Read more OffTheBus coverage and get involved by clicking here.