Fla. mail-in vote in jeopardy

By
Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
March 15, 2008, 7:21 AM ET
2 min read

WASHINGTON -- The head of the Florida Democratic Party said vigorous opposition has jeopardized a proposed mail-in presidential primary to reinstate the state's delegates.

Karen Thurman called on Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton to consider the mail-in vote as the best solution to the state's disputed Jan. 29 primary. She said at a news conference Thursday, however, "I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not, than yes."

Obama leads among pledged delegates and has been particularly skeptical of staging a mail-in vote.

"This plan is ridiculous and shouldn't be pursued," said Allan Katz, an Obama supporter and top Democratic National Committee official from Florida. He called a new vote unnecessary.

Obama expressed concerns Thursday about a mail-in voting but said he would "abide by whatever the DNC decides."

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, a Clinton supporter who had backed the mail-in vote, now proposes seating half the state's delegates and allocating them based on the Jan. 29 results, spokesman Dan McLaughlin said.

Democrats in Florida and Michigan are trying to find a way to seat their delegates at the party's national convention Aug. 24-28 in Denver. The DNC stripped the states of all their delegates — 367 in total — as punishment for scheduling their primaries ahead of Feb. 5.

Clinton won Florida and Michigan, but no delegates were awarded. The New York senator said this week that she wants the delegates seated based on the original voting or on the results of a new statewide primary.

Thurman said that she will decide by Monday but that the DNC won't support the proposal unless it's backed by both candidates.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said this week that Florida lacks enough time to prepare a new vote.

Florida's nine U.S. House members oppose the mail-in plan.

Under the plan Thurman pushed Thursday, the party would mail ballots to more than 4 million registered Democrats in Florida. Voters could mail it back or vote at one of 50 voting centers that would be created around the state.

The June 3 election would cost between $10 million and $12 million.