FL Edwards Supporters Go Online To Mobilize Troops

The Florida Progressive Coalition, an alliance of liberal groups, endorsed John Edwards Wednesday evening following a deliberation process that took place largely online. Simultaneously, a group of Edwards' Florida volunteers was launching an email blast touting the former North Carolina senator as the one Democrat who can thrash the Republicans in November.

Operating with little cash, and absent the support of the national campaign per a DNC ruling, Edwards supporters are going online in hopes of mobilizing troops for the coming primary ground war. Volunteers have sent out thousands of emails on behalf of the former North Carolina senator. They have also used the Internet to coordinate 'honk and sign' rallies and other visibility demonstrations.

According to volunteer Larry Thorson, whenever a new "Internet buddy" joins Edwards' unofficial Florida team, he or she is asked to get online and alert other friends and neighbors about Edwards' candidacy and lure them to the campaign's website.

"It would be nice to think one election cannot be bought," said Thorson, who lives in Miami, referring to the huge contributions from lobbyists who have donated to the "other two."

Professor Kenneth Quinell of Tallahassee, Executive Director of the Florida Progressive Coalition - composed of dozens of small liberal, environmental and non-aligned groups throughout Florida - issued the following Wednesday evening:

"The Florida Progressive Coalition proudly endorses John Edwards to be the next president of the United States. We did not arrive at this decision lightly. We surveyed our readers, members of Netroots mailing lists, and blogs of other Floridians. We debated the issue internally for several days via e-mail. We even talked about endorsing no candidate because of our concerns that endorsing one candidate might alienate supporters of other candidates or that our choice for the presidency might be out of the race before January 29. In the end, we decided to vote for the candidate who offered the most progressive and realistic vision for America's future -- John Edwards."

The endorsement came just as several dozen volunteers were initiating an e-mail campaign to bring Edwards to the attention of Florida voters who go to the polls next Tuesday. The e-mails are suggesting several ways to help Edwards' candidacy.

An earlier e-campaign is already producing small but tangible results. Richard McKinnon of Hollywood was so impressed he took his 8 and 9-year-old sons on a "waving and honking" campaign stop. He said his young children are now sure "they can change the world through John's campaign." Such comments are being delivered to the mainstream media in Florida.

Democratic candidates' campaigning in-person in Florida is a no-no, being enforced by the Democratic Executive Committee because the state legislature - GOP dominated - set a primary date prior to Super Tuesday (Feb. 5), when more than 20 states vote.

"Actually this punishment levels the playing field a bit", says Terry Lowman, an Edwards volunteer organizer who divides his time between Iowa and Florida. "At least the other candidates are not supposed to make an appearance here either."

The DNC will allow the candidates into the Sunshine State for fundraising activities and both Clinton and Obama have announced several cash-delivery parties on Jan. 27, when the remaining three Democrats are supposed to appear in a nationally televised debate from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

"Apparently, national debates are not considered as campaigning," a volunteer says.

Floridians for Edwards also has been sending emails to his North Carolina headquarters, urging the senator to come to Florida and to have his wife Elizabeth in tow.

"She is also a great campaigner, and we'd like to see more of both of them," says Gloria Pierce of Miami, another Edwards volunteer.

However, according to an Edwards staffer at his headquarters in North Carolina, "We've made a commitment not to campaign in Florida, and John will stand by his word."

The Clinton and Obama staffs are encouraging similar "unofficial" campaigning, leaving it to volunteers rather than breaking the DNC edict not to campaign in Florida. However, some big name surrogates are rumored to be making a trip this weekend to South Florida.

According to Florida Atlantic University's web site, the proposed MSNBC Democratic televised debate on Jan. 27 is still up in the air. The university is still describing the debate as "unconfirmed." However, because it is "nationally televised" and not just beamed to Florida, the candidates are expected to be there.

Comments

[TampabayDem]

TampaBay Blue endorsed Edwards:
http://tbdem.blogspot.com/2008/01/vote-john-edwards-on-january-29.html

[gatordem]

This has been a very wierd primary cycle here in Florida. We finally get a chance to vote in a primary when the issue is still in doubt and yet we have no Dem candidates or campaigns here. However, folks like Larry Thorson, and Liz France for Edwards,Frank Sanchez and all the folks in the Tampa Bay O-Train for Obama, and a Clinton campaign organized by Ana Cruz are trying valiantly to fill the breach.

The amazing thing is that despite all this, it appears that we are going to get a very large number of Dems going to vote in this primary, if the absentee and early vote totals are any indication.