Kucinich to Dean: Fix the FL primary mess

One of the more intriguing scenarios for Florida's Democratic presidential primary is the prospect that a longshot candiate could wind up on Jan. 29, 2008 overwhelingly leading the field in Democrats - so long as as that candidate did not campaign in Florida. The DNC rules say a candidate who campaigns in a state, like Florida, violating the DNC schedule can win no delegates from that state. Also, no one who receives less than 15 percent of the vote can receive delegates. Florida awards 208 delegates in the Democratic primary, compared to 172 for Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined.

So if, say, Joe Biden or Chris Dodd or Dennis Kucinich avoid campaigning in Florida - no speeches, no baby-kissing, no money raising  - they could well wind up with a motherlode of delegates  so long as they can get at least 15 percent of the vote. We asked Dennis Kucinich the other day if he'd consider skipping Florida Florida in order to win a ton of delegates.

"I'm going to campaign in Floirida,'' the Ohio congressman declared, before a "Political Connections" interview that airs Sunday on Bay News 9. "We put somebody in charge of the DNC to work these things out the the DNC has a responsibility to work it out. He shouldn't be telling candidates not to campaign. I don't think you can tell a politician not to campaign. That's like telling a bird not to fly or a fish not to swim."

Comments

Right message. Wrong messenger.

You mean the D's have a message?

the republican message is exemplified in their total bungling of everything, from iraq to katrina. name one thing that they haven't screwed up, except for those things that enrich themselves.

Yes, the D's have a message. They are going to kick a$$ in 2008.

Look for Karen Thurman to enforce her Party's rules using the same law that Jim Geeer is using to put down a small group oif renegade Rs, AS WELL AS the new laws that allow the Chairmam to kick out of the Party anyone who harms it, in the Chair's opinion.

Jim Greer did not write that law. Neither did Karen Thurman. The Florida House wrote it, the senate agreed to it and the governor signed it.

How the chairmen choose to use it is entirely up to their discretion.

Kucinich is absolutely correct. The chair of the DNC is there to handle this.

I can't wait to see how Hillary, Obama, Edwards and the dwarfs respond to the direction that they are unable to fundraise in the fourth largest swing state that played an ubercritical role in the last two elections that, oh by the way, raises a FORTUNE.

Good luck, Dr. Dean!

[politicalspectator]

I thought the primaries were already fixed.

i hope that all the D's in Florida remember what Mr. Dean is doing when the DNC comes knocking down the door for Cash.

[Z]

Such disarray among the Dems. Shocking. When a garden gnome like Kucinich makes the most sense, you know there are problems.

My primary dog got fixed… does that count?

[Z]

Yes, now your dog is a Democrat and when cats screech, your dog will immediately redeploy under the bed.

repuke dogs are full of evangelical fleas, which itch and bite and disturb the body politic.

[Ruth]

Once again, Dennis Kucinich takes the lead when it comes to integrity.

[Z]

repuke dogs are full of evangelical fleas, which itch and bite and disturb the body politic.

Aw, the angwy wittle wefty got mad and wote a cwever comeback.

[jaguar]

The Democratic candidates will do what they always do -- ignore the rules they don't like, especially the ones that get in the way of raising money or buying votes. And the Democrat Party will do what it always does -- cave in to political pressure from party insiders.

What is the message?