The following piece was produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus.
ORLANDO --- Campaign surrogates were counting pieces of sugar-frosted cake or taking unscientific straw polls -- anything to get attention -- at the most candidate-free state Democratic convention in memory.
Hillary Clinton supporters served up an "in-absentia" 60th birthday cake; John Edwards supporters wore hand-made "donkey hats" and used home-made signs to attract attention; and Barack Obama and Bill Richardson advocates competed with each other in posting signs at this past weekend's Florida State Democratic convention in Orlando. There was plenty of political activity -- but, at Disney World, there was no one in sight who could be called a top-tier presidential candidate (with apologies to Alaska's Sen, Mike Gravel who got a cool 30 seconds during a dinner to say hello to Floridians).
The major presidential candidates kept their word and did not attend the annual Florida Democratic love-fest, but did take heat from some conventioneers for buckling to the Democratic National Committee which had told Floridians that -- because the state's legislature had opted for an early primary date -- the fourth largest state in the nation would get no delegates to the national convention. It didn't seem to matter to the DNC that the Florida legislature which set the primary date is dominated by Republicans, legislative candidate Mark LaFontaine of Oakland Park said.
Larry Reister of Sarasota passed out "No vote; No Money" buttons, reminding other delegates that the DNC is allowing fund-raising but no campaigning in the Sunshine State.
"I have seen more people dressed as Mickey Mouse than I have presidential candidates," Reister said, asking delegates to sign a petition against the DNC. "If they won't count our vote, then we won't be their cash cow."
On the flip side, there were some delegates who said Florida should have followed the DNC rules and delayed a primary until Feb. 5 after voting in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Key West delegate George Maurer even offered a censure of Florida Party boss Rep. Karen Thurman for holding the January primary, but most delegates are positive the votes will eventually mean seats at the national convention, assured that no presidential nominee would want to lose Florida's 27 electoral votes.
In addition, Senator Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings told the 3,000-plus delegates that they still expect a positive ruling from the courts. Nelson and Hastings have jointly filed suit against the DNC for its no-delegate threat, but said, no matter what the ruling is, "Florida's delegates will be seated."
"The Republicans set the date to create chaos for us," former Miami-Dade legislator Cindy Lerner told a workshop on how to run a campaign, "but it is going to give us an opportunity for party building."
There may not have been the usual presidential candidates in Orlando, but it certainly was a pep rally for the state's Democrats and a chance for dozens of surrogates to express their feelings why their favorite should be the nominee.
Ninety-three year old "yellow dog" Democrat E.G. "Red" Lacky of Ormond Beaach held court for college age delegates, reminding them that history has shown that the winning Democrats usually are from Southern States and citing Presidents Johnson, Carter, and Clinton. "That's just one of the reasons, I am for John Edwards," said Lackey, sporting a huge donkey on his hat, surrounded by an Edwards bumper-sticker. "Edwards can win!"
Edwards, however, was runner-up to Sen. Clinton in an "un-official - unscientific" straw poll taken by delegate Marvin Quitttner of Sunrise, following a well-orchestrated, pre-planned Hillary birthday party in which supporters bragged that they dispensed some 500 pieces of cake to delegates. But, organizers of the cake treats were reminded "a piece of cake is not necessarily a vote."
Steven Meyer of Boca Raton mentioned that if "Al Gore would get into the race, it will be a whole different scenario" at the Denver national convention this summer. The Gore name was invoked time and time again as the one person who could "inspire" the most people.
State Sen. Ron Klein summed up the feelings of many when he said "change is sweeping the country and...... Florida will be one of the most important states in helping make those changes."
Dozens of local and state officials got to the podium to bash President Bush, including featured speakers Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland.
But the most fun - amidst thundering boos from 3,000 Democrats - was reserved for when Bush Impersonator John Morgan was introduced to the crowd as the real Bush. Morgan, who gave a humorous presentation of the President, is a dead ringer look-alike for Bush and has made a seven-year career impersonating him.
"You are going to be out of a job soon...thankfully." one delegate yelled good-naturedly. The crowd agreed.