Reply #10: Late update Friday night: Governor Crist likes 'do-over' primary by mail

[seafan]

From the St. Pete Times political blog, The Buzz

March 7, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist says he'd consider using state resources to hold a presidential primary "do-over" by mail to make sure all votes count. Asked Friday whether he still believes that the Democratic Party, not the state, should pay for such an election, Crist said: "It could be a blend ... If the Democratic National Committee is willing to pay for it, I think the appropriate thing would be for the state to oversee it to ensure the integrity of the process." He said he plans to discuss it with lawmakers this weekend.

Crist said he spoke to Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, the House Democratic leader, who pegs the cost of a statewide mail election as in the range of $4-million to $5-million. "That certainly is attractive and an idea that we shouldn't just throw out," Crist said. (Florida has never conducted a statewide vote by mail).

"It's my duty to make sure that any election held in this state has to be done with integrity and a process that's fair, done well, and where the votes count," Crist said.

If the mail-in election happens, Crist will be able to say he, not Howard Dean, made sure that all of the Democrats' votes count. A re-vote is seen as favoring Hillary Clinton, who easily defeated Barack Obama in the Jan. 29 vote that resulted in Florida being stripped of all of its Democratic delegates and half of its GOP delegates.