Is Hillary Clinton breaking her pledge not to campaign in Florida?

[DeepModem Mom]

Bradenton Herald/Miami Herald: Clinton, Obama spar over Florida

Is Hillary Clinton breaking her pledge not to campaign in Florida? Democratic rival Barack Obama raised the question - even though he insists Florida's vote won't matter - one day after a poll showed him 21 points behind in the state. An Obama campaign memo Tuesday pointed to "signs . . . that she may be planning to campaign in the state, inquiring about large venues and increased organizing activity."

In fact, the Clinton campaign inquired Tuesday if the Miami Beach Convention Center will be available for a "rally" on Jan. 27, two days before the state holds its earliest primary in history. City officials said there's no agreement yet because they are checking whether the massive hall is available. The Clinton campaign denied that she is planning to address a "large venue" in Florida, though a spokesman confirmed she will attend two private fundraisers that day: a $1,000-per-person event at Lucky Strike Lanes in Miami Beach and a $2,300-per-person reception at developer Michael Adler's Miami Beach home.

The dispute turns on the decision by the major Democratic candidates not to campaign in Florida until after its Jan. 29 primary. Pressure for the boycott came from four smaller states approved by the national party to hold the earliest contests. Under the pledge, the candidates can't appear in public or advertise in Florida, but they can raise money privately. Dueling memos from the the rival Democrats suggest the pledge may stop them from stumping for votes here, but not from jockeying for position.

The backbiting began a few hours before the polls closed Tuesday in Michigan, which like Florida moved up its primary in a bid for more clout in choosing the nominees. Most of the Democratic candidates went so far as to remove their names from the Michigan ballot, rendering the contest meaningless. In Florida, the candidates are still on the ballot, and grass-roots campaigns run by volunteers are under way. A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday showed Clinton far ahead of Obama, 52 percent to 31 percent.

While the national party says Florida's vote won't count toward delegates at the nominating convention, Democrats disagree on whether it will affect the race anyway. "Neither the Florida nor Michigan primaries are playing any role in deciding the Democratic nominee," the Obama campaign declared. The Clinton campaign's retort: "It is disappointing to hear a major Democratic presidential candidate tell the voters of ANY state that their voices aren't important."...

http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/331386.html

[papau]

1. Interesting - Obama also has held Florida "fundraisers" - why no comment in papers on

earlier Obama fundraisers in Florida? - a bit of nonsense as the vote means little.

[HeraldSquare212]

4. The article's news was that her campaign was looking into renting a large venue

so I guess we'll see whether that's true or not.

[redqueen]

7. It would be a bit of nonsense... if Obama weren't trying to make hay with this now.

But he seems to be doing just that... so if he did hold fundraisers after pledging not to campaign there... well...

[JackORoses]

9. his fundraisers weren't on the days leading up to the Primary, now were they?

[rinsd]

11. Fundraisers are allowed under the pledge.

[leftynyc]

13. So just how many days before does

it mean cheating? Me thinks you're on this ice with this argument. Seems Obama is in Florida today and tomorrow doing fundraisers. Are your knickers in a knot about that?

[liberalnurse]

10. Oh yes he has several today as a matter of fact!

Here is the itinerary for Florida.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/flhome

Here is a map of the events too!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fleventsmap

snip>

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 @ 6:00pm
Naples, FL

West Volusia for Obama Organization Meeting
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 @ 7:00pm
Deland, FL

Poster/ Banner Making Party
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 @ 8:30pm
Jacksonville, FL

St. John's Town Center Sign Waving Event
Thursday, January 17, 2008 @ 4:00pm
Jacksonville, FL

THURSDAY SIGN WAVING
Thursday, January 17, 2008 @ 5:00pm
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

[papau]

14. I thought you were kidding - but Obama indeed has events through out Florida going on.

[bobnbob]

16. Obama SUPPORTER events

Those events - those are sponsored and put on by the many Obama supporters across Florida - he won't be here - but the inspiration that he creates in his supporters is. The inspiration to be a change, to make change and to have hope - all of those events are being organized by regular folks, like myself, here in Florida.

[Clintonista2]

2. No.

[HeraldSquare212]

3. Once again, abandoning the party (and SC and NV) and making up comments from the Obama campaign.....

"It is disappointing to hear a major Democratic presidential candidate tell the voters of ANY state that their voices aren't important."...

Um, it was the DNC, no? The Obama campaign is just stating fact.


What a wonderful campaign HRC has going! Are these the only plays she knows?

Edit for typos.

[Cha]

5. hillary's desperate..What will she blame if she doesn't win?

[bluedog]

6. Barack Obama doesn't care what Florida Democrats say on Jan. 29.

Wed Jan-16-08 09:51 AM
Original message
Obama stirs fight with Florida memo
*********what a slap to the voters in Florida...... I've already gotmy ballot....and all the names are on it.......


Obama stirs fight with Florida memo

The Clinton campaign criticizes her rival's insistence that the state's votes won't count.
By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published January 16, 2008




Barack Obama doesn't care what Florida Democrats say on Jan. 29.

In a memo released Tuesday, he reiterated his long-standing view that their primary votes will be worthless. And he vaguely charged that Hillary Rodham Clinton may violate her pledge not to campaign in Florida by holding events here later this month.

"We signed a pledge not to campaign in Florida before Feb. 5, and we're not going to campaign in Florida," Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said. "But it is disappointing that the Obama campaign continues to tell people that their voices don't count, that they continue to disenfranchise people. Hillary Clinton wants to be president of all 50 states."

The Illinois senator's memo stressed that the Democratic primaries in Michigan and Florida are meaningless because the states defied national party rules forbidding all but a handful of states from holding primary elections earlier than Feb. 5.

snip




"Our position and the position of the DNC is clear -- neither the Florida nor Michigan primaries are playing any role in deciding the Democratic nominee and we are not campaigning in either state," said the Obama campaign memo. It also said, "Clinton may be planning to campaign in the state -- inquiring about large venues and increased organizing activity -- ahead of the Florida primary."

Chris Korge, a top Clinton fundraiser, said the campaign is planning two Miami Beach fundraisers on Jan. 27, one at a bowling alley and one at the home of Michael Adler, a top money-raiser for former presidential candidate Joe Biden. But unlike some $25 events that are quasi rallies, the minimum donation to attend these events will be $1,000.

"Maybe we should send that memo to all the Democratic voters in Florida," Korge quipped of the Obama e-mail.

Technically, Florida Democratic votes don't count because they won't lead to any delegates. But many observers say Florida Democrats will have significant influence just by voicing the preference of party faithful in America's


http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/16/State/Obama_stirs_fig...

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Thanks for adding this info, bluedog. nt

[papau]

15. so why so many Obama events in Florida - other than Fundraisers - on his site?

Here is the itinerary for Florida.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/flhome

Here is a map of the events too!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fleventsmap

[bobnbob]

17. So many Obama supporter events

because Barack Obama supporters are inspired to get out the vote, to share the knowledge of Obama, and because smart Florida Democrats know that Barack Obama will preside over the United States, not just Floria.

Heck, from Tampa Bay alone there are about 40 individuals carpooling to South Carolina this weekend to support and share the fun of Obama-mania with their fellow citizens.

Barack Obama has always said this campaign is more about the difference WE want to make than about him, that's why his campaign is OBAMA FOR AMERICA.

[madrchsod]

12. "private fundraisers" are legal

public rally`s-fund raisers are not...but don`t quote me cause that`s from my decrepit memory