Appealing for Solomon-like decision making, Florida's Democratic leadership is asking that 50 percent of its elected delegate strength be seated as a means of breaking the impasse and saving millions of dollars in a re-vote which has little support from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
The newest face-saving proposal was sent by "over-the-weekend mail" to the Democratic National Committee as a way out of the dilemma facing the party caused when Florida held a rules-breaking election one week ahead of schedule.
Indications are that Sen. Hillary Clinton - who won the Jan. 29 Florida primary - would agree to the "50 percent proposal", but spokespersons for Sen. Barack Obama still are asking for a caucus.
"When a 'Violation of Timing' occurs by a state party, the number of pledged delegates shall be reduced by fifty percent (50%)," veteran DNC member Jon Ausman of Tallahassee reminded the party's Credential Committee in an appeal by mail. He explained Florida could still get 210 delegates but each would only get l/2 of a vote. He also asked that Florida's elected officials - superdelegates - be seated.
"I am respectfully requesting that these two challenges and/or appeals regarding Florida's delegates and alternates be scheduled before the next Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting for consideration and review," Ausman said, apparently with the backing of a number of Sunshine State officials. A spokesman for Sen. Bill Nelson, the state's leading Democrat called the 1⁄2 vote suggestion..."an idea...not necessarily a proposal."
The documents were sent by Ausman to the co-Chairman of the Credentials Committee James Roosevelt, with e-mails explaining the appeal being forwarded to Democratic leaders all over the State. Ausman and Janee Murphy, Secretary of theFlorida Democratic Party, said they expected to go before the Committee at its meeting on April 14.
The Credentials Committee has about 200 members and has the power to decide who is seated at the party's nominating convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver.
The half-vote proposal came as the chance for a new primary in Florida by June 3 received increased resistance.
Michigan has a similar problem (it, too, had an earlier than mandated primary), but a re-vote there does not face the same logistical problems as in Florida, including the shift-over in new, as yet untested voting equipment, and the question of who would shell out the estimated 10 to 12 million dollars estimated as the cost of another Florida election. There is also a reminder that only Clinton was on the Michigan ballot while Floridians had a choice of all Democratic candidates. Florida's Republican legislative majority says no state funds can be used for a re-vote and even Democrats oppose another costly election.
If the DNC and the candidates would agree to this newest Florida proposal Clinton would get an edge of about 19 first-ballot committed delegates, based on her 17 percent victory in the Jan. 29 primary. There are also 25 Florida superdelegates, out of some 800 party insiders nationally, who get to vote.
There is general agreement that this would have little or no effect on the current delegate count nationally. The latest delegate count is believed to be 1,603 for Obama and 1,497 for Clinton, with Pennsylvania (April 22) and North Carolina (May 6) looming as the next big prizes.
Sen. Nelson - who earlier had sought a complete new election - gave a modest nod to the plan. Florida's Democratic congressional delegation - nine in all - who are unanimously opposed to a new election - are still considering the newest proposal.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Clinton supporter, indicated if both Democratic potential nominees agreed, she believed the proposal could be accepted.
But some Obama backers says the solution seems to weigh too heavily on the side of Sen. Clinton. Kurt Wager, an Obama fundraiser in Miami, was quoted in the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale as saying cutting the Florida delegation strength in half was "unlikely." According to the pundits Obama himself has not committed to a solution - but world prefer a caucus to end the stalemate. Obama supporters earlier indicated they might also agree to an even split of Florida's delegates.
"It is important to remember that the Democratic nominating process does not end until June 10 when other states will be voting," says Karen Thurman, the state party chief who also is expected to go before the Credentials Committee to discuss the l/2 vote per delegate "solution." "We continue to move ahead with preparations for a coordinated general election campaign."
Florida's delegation battle continues to grab headlines daily. Television newscasts locally and on cable and newspapers give the subject mammoth coverage. "Mail Vote Plan Was Doomed" said the Sun-Sentinel, referring to a possible vote-by-mail scheme, which opponents said left open the "possibility of fraud. The mail-in vote was one of several ideas being floated, but got lukewarm or negative reception.
Florida political junkies argue that the DNC punishment - not seating any Florida delegates - was too harsh and counter-productive, and now neither party - state officials nor the DNC -want to bend and show weakness. They say this merely gives Republicans a strategic issue in the general election. But, they added, the new proposal might give the DNC a face-saving opportunity, still allowing Florida a voice at the convention, and salvaging the state's general election prospects in November.
The GOP, they say, is using the Democratic infighting as a means of making the opposition party look ridiculous. Florida is seen as an electoral battleground in November that can go either way. Democratic activists remind supporters that it was only a handful of ballots that cost Al Gore Florida's electoral votes and the loss the presidency eight years ago.
More than one Democrat has noticed the DNC's "obvious" difference in the treatment of Michigan and Florida, citing the party's convention web page now listing a convention hotel site (along with 48 other States) for Michigan - but, none for Florida. "Not very smart," says Dean Trantelis, who was elected an alternate delegate in the March 1 caucus based on the January primary results. "Just another example of the bungling going on."