Florida Dems eager to vote despite candidates' boycott
— -- What if they held a presidential primary and nobody campaigned?
Unthinkable as it may seem in this media-manipulated age, that's the situation developing in, of all places, Florida, a state that generally gets blanketed by candidates and their messages.
It's business as usual on the Republican side of the ballot, as GOP presidential candidates descend on the state.
The primary election is Jan. 29, yet Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have no plans to appear in the state whose Electoral College votes decided the 2000 presidential election.
The boycott is the result of a fight over Florida's decision to move its primary date ahead of the party-approved calendar. As a result, the Democratic National Committee voted to strip the state of its delegates to this year's Democratic convention.
Most Florida Democratic elected officials are convinced the party will relent and seat the state's 210 delegates and 31 alternates, if only to avoid alienating activists in a state that will likely be key in November.
"You can't turn your back on 27 Electoral College votes," said Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Clinton supporter. "I agree," said Rep. Robert Wexler, who supports Obama.
Nonetheless, there are no campaign stops, no TV commercials, no campaign brochures in mailboxes. Supporters who want yard signs or bumper stickers must order them from national headquarters.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life," said Miami adman Sergio Bendixen. "I've been involved in politics since 1972."
Under the radar, however, there's activity. Earlier this week, Obama's campaign questioned whether two fundraisers that Clinton has scheduled for Jan. 27 in south Florida might turn into full-fledged campaign appearances. Democratic candidates are permitted to raise money in Florida, but not to stump there. All the Democrats have held fundraisers in the state.
Obama "is firm in his commitment to neither participate nor campaign in the Florida primary," a campaign memo said. "Its outcome has no bearing on the nomination contest."
Related Stories
ABC News Live