(FL) Primary move upsets DNC

[Freddie Stubbs]

Dean threatens a loss of delegates if the state moves to an early slot.

By STEVE BOUSQUET, Times Staff Writer
Published February 9, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Democratic national chairman Howard Dean is lobbying local party leaders to resist moving up Florida's 2008 presidential primary, but he's not having much success.

Dean is resisting a Republican-led effort in Florida to move the primary from early March to Feb. 5 or one week after New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, whichever is sooner.

Dean, the party leader and 2004 presidential candidate, phoned Miami Beach Rep. Dan Gelber, the House Democratic leader, who backs an earlier primary.

"I didn't want to get in a game of chicken with the national Democratic Party, but candidly, I don't represent Howard Dean," Gelber said. "I represent a lot of people who would like to be in the primary journey as more than just potential contributors."

more: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/09/State/Primary_move_upsets_D.shtml

[Ian David]

1. Because the one thing wrong with National Politics is that Florida doesn't have enough influence.

:sarcasm:

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Why shouldn't FL Democrats have more influence on who the nominee is?

There are a lot more Democrats in FL than there are in Iowa or New Hampshire.

[The Stranger]

5. You have it backwards: The question is WHY FL Democrats should have more influence.

The change being sought is to give them MORE influence.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Because they currently have almost no influence due to how late the primary is

Moving the primary earlier will give Florida Democrats a meaningful vote on whom the nominee will be.

[The Stranger]

9. That is re-asking the question: Why THEY should have MORE influence?

I'm sure Californians would love to have the coveted schedule on the calendar.

[CookieD]

12. I think we may be conflating our concepts

Florida indeed has a lot of influence in the general election. But it has almost ZERO influence in the primary process. Moving Florida up on the schedule will not give it MORE influence in the general election.

It is logical for states which have the most influence in the general election - e.g., Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio - to at least have a significant role in the primary process.

Yes, California would love to have a better spot on the calendar. So would New York and so would Texas. But none of those states is considered "in play" in 2008. Frankly, if it gets to the point where California or Texas are even competitive, the election will probably be a blowout.

Good for Florida! Truth be told, we'd probably be most successful if we pushed our most populous, competitive states to the front of the calendar. Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and New Mexico need to be in the mix. Iowa and New Hampshire should always be near the front of the line for the sake of tradition. But this every-fourth-year genuflection to those states is tiresome and not nearly as productive as its supporters claim.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. It's the swing state with the largest number of electoral votes

If you want those electoral votes, you probably want nominate someone Floridians like.

[rinsd]

11. Sometimes they practically write themselves

;-)

[Moby Grape]

2. good for Florida n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Why?

[LiberalFighter]

6. Primaries should not be any earlier than the earliest primary held

during non Presidential years. It appears that the first week in March was the earliest regular primary in 2002 & 2006.

[BayCityProgressive]

7. all the primaries

should be on the same day. Now if you have enough money and ties, you can win the first state or two and then everyone else follows the leader like zombies.

[LiberalFighter]

10. I wouldn't have a problem having primaries split into 6 districts

then have them every 2 or 3 weeks.

[Shakespeare]

13. AND it gives far, far too much power to small states.

The current system renders California and New York essentially irrelevant. Considering we bring the lion's share of electoral votes, it really skews things unfairly and unrepresentationally to remove our voice from the process. Move 'em.

[flyarm]

15. ahhh florida does as well...as Calif and NY..n/t