Florida Leapfrog: Dems Getting Ready To Sue Dems, As GOP Seeks Converts

Florida Leapfrog: Dems Getting Ready To Sue Dems, As GOP Seeks Converts

Senator Bill Nelson escalated the nomination calendar rhetoric Tuesday, as Florida faces Saturday's DNC deadline to back down on a Jan. 29 primary or risk losing all the state's Democratic National Convention delegates.

"We're disappointed in (DNC chair Howard) Dean's response,'' Nelson said in a written statement. "He's rejected at least three compromise solutions. Now there is no choice.  I'm preparing a lawsuit."

Capitol Hill paper The Hill reported: "Dean said none of Nelson's proposed compromises were acceptable because they contravene DNC rules, which allow contests prior to Feb. 5 in only four states: Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina."

Another Floridian, Hillsborough County Democratic activist Victor DiMaio, has already filed suit, arguing that Florida Democratic voters are being disenfranchised in the process of choosing a Democratic presidential candidate.

Florida Republicans, who started this situation by moving the primary from Feb. 5, are now seeking to capitalize on Democratic chaos and frustration.  The St. Petersburg Times reports on a Florida GOP mailer that asks, "Ready to change parties?"

"Thanks to their egos and political infighting - you, as a Florida Democrat, may lose your right to vote," reads the mailer. "No delegates. No votes. Because of the Democrat rules, Democratic presidential candidates say they won't campaign in Florida - they'll only raise money here."

"There is hope. You'll find it with the Republican Party of Florida."

The mailer does not note that, under Republican party rules, the state will sacrifice half its Republican National Convention delegates for going early.

The top six Democratic candidates signed an early state pledge not to campaign in the leapfrogging states.  The Miami Herald tries to figure out what "campaign" means, and notes that Bill Richardson even declined to send a note of acknowledgement when invited to a county party event.  The Republican contenders have not been asked to make a similar pledge, and are continuing to actively court Florida voters.