The Democratic party leadership showed today they are really nervous about what is being called the 'Florida Boondoggle," the effort to find a solution in seating the State's 211 delegates - a powerhouse number as the primary season dwindles down. They issued a widely-circulated communiqué which put the delegate seating status squarely on the two candidates -- Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
"If that doesn't cause fireworks, nothing will," said one undecided super-delegate.
The Internet and e-mails in Florida were filled with copies of the communiqué - issued just after noon on Wednesday, April 2.
The party press release said that "after a joint meeting today among Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman and Florida's Democratic Congressional Delegation" they agreed that:
"We are all committed to doing everything we can to ensure that a Florida delegation is seated in Denver. We all agree that whatever the solution, it must have the support of both campaigns."
"While there may be differences of opinion in how we get there, we are all committed to ensuring that Florida's delegation is seated in Denver. We're committed to working with both campaigns to reach a solution as soon as realistically possible."
"We are also laying the groundwork to ensure we win in Florida in November and spent time here today talking about how to do just that. We will continue to work towards a solution to ensure delegates are seated and logistics are in place for a Florida delegation in Denver."
The statement - which got widespread dissemination to Florida's Democratic workers via emails - was supposed to allay anxiety which has been building for weeks - the DNC's threat to refuse to seat Florida's delegation because it held an earlier than permitted primary. Clinton - with all the Democratic nominees on the ballot - won the state by a 17-percent margin.
State party leaders and the DNC have been under tremendous pressure to solve the problem or face the reality that to ignore Florida would be playing into the hands of the Republicans and possibly pave the way for a GOP victory in November. Florida - the fourth largest state in the nation -- has 27 electoral votes, and is considered a swing state.
The joint communiqué came just days before Florida's Democratic leaders head to Orlando where on April 5 - in accordance with results of the Jan 29 primary - they will choose another 24 delegates from PLEOs (party leaders and elected officials). That will mean 14 more delegates for Clinton and 10 for Obama, the state party in Tallahassee explained, based on the statewide vote. Earlier the state party had selected delegates by Congressional District and on May 17 will add more delegates in Tampa so that there is sufficient representation of women, men, seniors, gays and other minorities - "a normal procedure in Democratic politics."
"As promised, we now know we will be seated," said Democratic National Committeewoman Diane Glasser of Tamarac, a super-delegate.
Wednesday's communiqué made no mention of a proposal which would be a face-saving device - authorized under party rules--which would withhold one half of the delegates when a state (like Florida or Michigan) holds a primary earlier than allowed by party mandate. One Florida super-delegate John Ausman of Tallahassee, a DNC member, has suggested seating all 211 Florida delegates and giving each one-half vote (instead of a full vote).. But, even that proposal is getting booed, by both Obama and Clinton supporters..
Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton -- who handily won the Florida primary in January -- have been asking that all delegates be given their rightful full vote at the August 25-28 convention in Denver. Supporters of Sen. Obama have said Florida broke party rules and its vote should not count.
Republican strategists have been saying quietly that the delegate controversy has been a blessing for their apparent standard bearer Sen. John McCain.
Democrats, meanwhile, have been looking for a solution, even one which may not make all parties happy. Ann Zucker, a delegate-elect and President of the Democratic clubs of Broward County, said "Who would possibly think that loyal Democrats would be overlooked in selecting the party's nominee?"
The Washington communiqué - hoping the two candidates will allow for a resolution -- came on the heels of last weekend's widely reported Palm Beach county rally and petition drive, which organizers hoped would ignite a nationwide grassroots movement in support of Sunshine State Democrats. At the same time, a number officials said they would take the situation all the way to a convention if necessary "for a floor fight to get us seated" Several legislators and party activists who attended the rally said the DNC better realize "quickly" that 1.7 million Florida Democrats made known their preference.
"To ignore Florida, would be unthinkable,": said Justin Flippen, president of the Dolphin Democrats, headquartered in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Michigan has a similar problem (it, too, had an earlier than mandated primary). but the latest gesture toward delegate seating was only directed at Florida.
If the DNC and the candidates would agree to the newest Florida proposal ( ½ vote per delegate), Clinton would get an edge of about 19 first-ballot committed delegates, based on her lopsided victory in the Jan 29 primary. However, that solution may not satisfy everyone. There are also 25 Florida super-delegates, out of some 800 party insiders nationally, who get to vote. Some insiders say Clinton has an edge there, too.
Insiders say that the l/2 vote solution would have no effect on the overall delegate count nationally (even if accepted by Obama and Clinton) as it stands today. Votes in Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina as well as other states in May and June may be more significant.