Florida Democratic party chair: Primary do-over unlikely

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's state Democratic party chair says the proposed presidential primary do-over is unlikely to go forward because of concerns about the combined mail-in/in-person election.

Still, Chairwoman Karen Thurman said Thursday she is asking Democratic leaders, the national party and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton to consider the option as the best way to resolve a delegate dispute created when the state violated party rules by holding an early primary.

Thurman will review comments from Democratic leaders and make a decision by Monday on whether to proceed with the do-over. But she said based on what she's already heard, it's unlikely to happen.

Thurman had sent a draft proposal to state and national party leaders and has asked for feedback by Friday. The mail ballot would cost $10 million to $12 million, Thurman said, and be conducted by "reputable election management companies" and overseen by "a recognized accounting firm."

If there's consensus agreement, Thurman said in a memo, the state party will begin in earnest on Monday getting the mail-in vote going.

"We have re-examined every potential alternative again," Thurman wrote in her memo. "Online one stands out as fair, open, practical and feasible at this time. We are positive that a combination vote-by-mail and in-person election can be conducted in the time available – but only if Democratic leaders support the plan."

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National party officials stripped Florida and Michigan of their delegates to this summer's national convention in Denver to punish the states for moving their primaries before Feb. 5. Florida lost 211 delegates, Michigan, 156.

Clinton won the January primaries in both states, but no delegates were awarded. Neither Clinton nor rival Obama campaigned in either state in deference to party rules.

Florida is moving ahead despite objections from its members in the U.S. House. David Goldenberg, chief of staff to Rep. Alcee Hastings, said the state hasn't had enough time to prepare for a mail-in vote. House members also were concerned that ballots would not reach low-income voters who may change addresses frequently or residents who spend only winter in the state, he said. Hastings supports Clinton.