Democrats might not need Florida to win the White House

[IndianaGreen]

Democrats might not need Florida to win the White House

By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
Published Saturday, March 15, 2008 3:14 PM

A day hasn't gone by lately without some prominent Democrat wringing his or her hands over Florida's Democratic primary conundrum and darkly warning that Democrats are on the verge of kissing off Florida's 27 electoral votes.

Well, it's time to broach an unspeakable, heretical suggestion in this state: Maybe, just maybe, Democrats can continue snubbing America's biggest swing state and still march into the White House.

Sorry to say it, folks, but Florida may not be center of the political universe this year.

"We've been the target for so many years it's very tough for people to think we might not be,'' said Robin Rorapaugh, a veteran Democratic consultant based in Broward County. "But it is still very much up in the air as to Florida being a targeted state. Part of it is who becomes the nominee, and part of it is balancing the cost of starting a campaign from scratch here."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article418790.ece

[FreakinDJ]

1. I rather be the Political Party known for "Counting ALL the Votes"

The republicans have quietly conducted campaigns (some legal some not) to disinfrancize as many voters as possible. I think the Democratic party really should capitolize on this and be the party that stands for "Counting ALL the Votes ALL the Time"

Isn't that what our democracy is based on

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. AMEN

"Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us. No he ain't! Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty," boomed the Pastor as he gyrated on the lectern.

[IndianaGreen]

6. The Florida politicians knew the rules when they changed the date of primary

and now they are trying to avoid the consequences of their actions. Sorry!

[FreakinDJ]

11. Florida needs a "Do - Over" primary and I don't care what it cost

Yes the fucking Rat-Bastard Rat-publicans in Florida did that knowing full well the problems it would creat

[Cha]

19. Both parties in Florida voted for it except

one lone Democrat..One Jack Seiler.

"madfloridian (1000+ posts) Sun Mar-16-08 05:37 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. I found his words when he voted no.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/...

"But some, like state Rep. Jack Seiler, a Wilton Manors Democrat who was the only House member to vote against the bill, believe Florida's earlier primary will hurt underdog candidates who don't have enough money to compete in large media markets at an early stage. He's been impressed with former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, but hasn't yet endorsed anyone.

"You're essentially going to make this into a straight money race," Seiler said, benefiting "whomever comes out of 2007 with the most money to prepare for these large states."

Not a single person voted with him."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5110663#5112021

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1459

[featherman]

12. The votes were counted. (Such a stange meme that they were not)

The primary was not approved as a valid method of delegate selection to the Democratic Party Convention as per clearly stated and well established Democratic Party rules.

But the actual primary election votes were counted and the results were published. There used to be many of these "beauty contest" primaries but the actual delegates were selected later by another means, ie, caucuses and/or state convention. This is simple history.

Let's try to be a little more accurate.

[FreakinDJ]

20. Exactly it was not a primary

Just like Michigan where if you wrote in Obama's name your ballot was disqualified.

Both States require a Do Over

[TheWraith]

2. We absolutely don't need them.

Not when we're probably going to take states like CO, VA, MO, and quite possibly the Carolinas. Florida can get on board or be laughed at.

[NJSecularist]

4. It's possible that Florida will be irrelevant

I could see Missouri being the decider in this election, if we don't take Florida or Ohio. That is of course if we take Iowa and Colorado.

[JorgeTheGood]

26. forget CO (and AZ) ...

those are NRA states ... no way in hell the dems get those states

[eleny]

5. That's why the 50 state strategy is so important

Florida has become such a liability. With Republican governors and Secys of State who disenfranchise potential Dem voters, we needed to develop Electoral College votes elsewhere.

Absent an election process that counts all votes without monkeying with the machine counts, we had to branch out here to the west and hopefully some southern states will also begin to go our way with an inspiring as well as brilliant candidate.

[Vinca]

7. There's so much corruption, we should always assume Florida

will go Republican. If it goes Democratic, consider it a miracle.

[featherman]

8. In my opinion Florida is not going DEM this cycle. However

our candidate will have the money and resources to contest it and keep the pressure on the GOP to defend it.
This will be the case in many states. I'm hoping there is a broad offensive this year and let the chips fall where they may.

[jillan]

10. If their votes aren't counted - you can be sure they will NOT be blue.

[FrenchieCat]

29. I don't think so either....no matter who is on the ticket.......

just like we didn't win it in 2004, and we won it, but it didn't count in 2000.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. Sure, and Ohio either.

:rofl:

[democrattotheend]

13. I've been saying that for a while

I don't think we need Florida and I don't think we can win it. I am not saying we shouldn't compete there, but we certainly should not count on it.

[MattBaggins]

14. Half count is so stupid

Average Joe American doesn't deserve this nonsense. Give both Florida and Michigan revotes and let their voices be heard. We have seen enough of being disenfranchised. I am an Obama supporter but no matter what the outcome we need to get together after this election and really discuss how we handle party primaries.

[madfloridian]

15. Dean's new map out west....

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/420

"Add it all up, and Democrats hope a new day is dawning. "We intend to contest Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada as a unit next time in the presidential because we think we can win there," Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean told U.S. News. Dean's theory is that, with a combined total of 29 electoral votes, those four states would make it unnecessary for the Democrats to win Florida, with 27 electoral votes, which they have lost in the last two down-to-the-wire presidential elections. "Bill Clinton won every single one of those states at one time or another," Dean added

Big brother.
Dean said the key to the Democratic resurgence lies in what he sees as the rightward, interventionist shift of the national GOP. "The Republican Party has become the big-brother party, and this is a very libertarian part of the country. ... don't believe it's the government's place to tell them what to do with their personal lives, and this is a government that specializes in telling people what to do in their personal lives."

[JorgeTheGood]

24. Dean is off his rocker ... n/t

[Arugula Latte]

27. No. The 50-State Strategy is a winning strategy.

Look at our results in 2006.

Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico are definitely winnable (if Obama is the nominee). Arizona ... well, not so much this year, with McCain.

[izzybeans]

25. They will most certainly win a few former red states with the new emphasis

of actually participating in the elections in those states. it doesn't even need to be these.

[LisaL]

16. Well, democrats better not need it, cause they have snowball

chance in hell of getting it.

[New Dawn]

17. K&R - we do not need Florida to win!

Ohio is a must though.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. No Dem can win Florida, its still - Floriduh - brownshirts will come in

its the unwritten rules.

[DerekJ]

21. kick

[DerekJ]

22. kick

[Johnny__Motown]

23. If a re-vote can be held within the rules then it should be done. 50 state strategy not 49 states

Even if we can win without it there will still be backlash against other Dems running in the state as well as hard feelings in future elections.


Obama may not win FL but he will still do better than he did the first time around with Edwards still on the ballot.

It is best for everyone, assuming Florida does not fuck it all up.

[Scurrilous]

28. K & R

:thumbsup: