SNEAK PEEK: No Do-Over for the Sunshine State

March 17, 2008— -- The Florida Democratic Party has closed the door on a second primary to resolve the delegate issue, a blow to the Clinton campaign's desire to hold a revote and recreate its Florida victory within the rules.

The Florida Democratic Party chair Karen Thurman sent a letter to state Democrats informing them that the party's proposal for a combination vote-by-mail and in-person voting primary on June 3 is dead.

This party was working to develop an acceptable solution within the DNC rules that would allow Florida Democratic voters to participate in the party's nomination process and allow the state's 211 delegates to be seated at the national convention in August.

Thurman states in a letter being sent to Florida Democrats tonight that the consensus is clear: "Florida doesn't want to vote again. So we won't."

The next move toward a solution to seat the Florida delegates will likely come from the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee, which will meet in April.

On Monday, Michigan legislative leaders began reviewing draft legislation which would approve spending privately raised funds for a do-over primary on June 3rd.

Race has been a consistent element of the narrative on the Democratic campaign trail over the last two and a half months. As the latest chapter, over the words of Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, continues into Week Two, the Illinois Senator dives into the issue head first with a speech on race on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

But today he fended off a half dozen questions from campaign reporters about Wright by saying "stay tuned" for the speech.

"I'm giving a speech about this tomorrow, that will be a lot more wholesome than a press conference," the Illinois senator said in Monaca, Penn. today.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that Obama's dodging on Wright was in "stark contrast to Friday night's cable interview rounds where he made himself available for a through grilling of questions solely on Wright."

In the speech, set to be delivered at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, Obama said he will be talking not just about Wright but also "the larger issue of race in this campaign, which has ramped up over the last couple of weeks."

From Miller: "While condemning Wrights statements, Obama said he, along with the African American community, believes his pastor has been unfairly characterized in the slew of controversy this week. His speech tomorrow will aim to address these misperceptions."

"I think the statements that were the source of controversy from Rev Wright were wrong and I strongly condemn them. I think the caricature that's been painted of him is not accurate. And so part of what I'll do tomorrow is just to talk a little bit about how some of these issues are perceived from within the black church community, for example, which I think views this very differently."

Since the story erupted last week, Wright left the campaign's African American Religious Leadership Committee and Obama has put some distance between himself and his pastor of 20 years, ABC News' Jake Tapper and Susan Rucci report.

"I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have [been] the subject of this controversy," Obama said, saying that he'd never heard any of them personally. Over the weekend, Obama brought up Wright's statements, weaving the storyline into the history of race in America, ABC News' Miller reports.

Obama blasts Bush for his hands-off handling of the current economic situation. LINK

Avoiding a Contested Convention
With the campaigning stretching into march madness, is there an end game in sight? LINK

Obama Hits Clinton War Judgment
Obama: Clinton and McCain's judgment "gave President Bush a blank check" for war LINK

N.Y.'s New Governor: 'We Move Forward'
Replacing Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson is sworn in as New York's 55th governor. LINK

'The View': Sex Scandal Sellout
The ladies are outraged by call girl Ashley Dupre's aka "Kristen's" success. LINK

Clinton vs. Sinbad on Bosnia Trip
Clinton dismisses Sinbad's recollection of a 1996 Bosnia trip. LINK

Clinton on Economic Woes: 'We are in the Soup'
Sen. Clinton blasts the Bush administration for not doing enough. LINK

Bush Urges Calm After Weekend Upheaval
Bush: "We're in challenging times, but..we've taken strong and decisive action." LINK

Bill Clinton's Global Initiative
The former president challenges young people to get involved in world issues. LINK

Cheney Meets With Iraqi Leaders
The vice president makes an unannounced visit to Iraq. LINK

The Politics of Race
Donna Brazile and Juan Williams discuss the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy. LINK

Race, Religion and Politics
Sen. Barack Obama's church slams media coverage of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. LINK

5 Years in Iraq
Gen. Ray Odierno addresses where things stand in Iraq. LINK

McCain on Iraq
The Republican presidential front-runner discusses American presence in Iraq. LINK

Bill Clinton: 'Just Chill Out'
The former president weighs in on the election. LINK

Intern for the ABC News Political Unit:

The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking three full-time summer interns in Washington, D.C.

The internship begins Monday, May 19, and runs through Friday, Aug. 22.

Not only do Political Unit interns attend political events and contribute to The Note and the politics page of ABCNews.com, they also help us by conducting research, maintaining contact lists, and updating the political schedule.

In order to apply, you MUST be either a graduate student or an undergraduate student who has completed his or her first year of college. The internship is NOT open to recent graduates.

You also must be able to work eight hours per day, starting early, Monday through Friday. Interns will be paid $8.50/hour.

If you write well, don't mind getting up early, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to teddy.davis@abc.com as soon as possible, with the subject line: "INTERN" in all caps. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates of your availability.