Democrats Vow To Skip Defiant States; Florida and Michigan Voters Lose

by: Betsy L. Angert

Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 16:11:14 PM EDT

Fla. Election Controversy Pits Democrats Against Democrats

copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert

Is it the Democrats, or Florida, that is forever the source of much elector conflict?  When votes thought to count were not calculated the country clamored.  When the butterfly ballot caused great concern, alterations were made.  Then the public called for paper ballots.  That controversy still brews.  Now, a newer, more novel approach to elections garners much attention.

Democrats vow to skip defiant states.
Six candidates agree not to campaign in those that break with the party's calendar.  Florida and Michigan, this includes you.
By Mark Z. Barabak
Los Angeles Times

September 2, 2007

The muddled 2008 presidential nomination calendar gained some clarity Saturday -- at least on the Democratic side -- as the party's major candidates agreed not to campaign in any state that defies party rules by voting earlier than allowed.

Their collective action was a blow to Florida and Michigan, two states likely to be important in the general election, which sought to enhance their clout in the nominating process as well.

Front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York followed Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in pledging to abide by the calendar set by the Democratic National Committee last summer.  The rules allow four states -- Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina -- to vote in January.

The four "need to be first because in these states ideas count, not just money," Edwards said in a written statement.  "This tried-and-true nominating system is the only way for voters to judge the field based on the quality of the candidate, not the depth of their war chest."

Hours later, after Obama took the pledge, Clinton's campaign chief issued a statement citing the four states' "unique and special role in the nominating process" and said that the New York senator, too, would "adhere to the DNC-approved calendar."

Three candidates running farther back in the pack -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware -- said Friday they would honor the pledge, shortly after the challenge was issued in a letter co-signed by Democratic leaders in the four early states.

To campaign or not to campaign has been a vexing question facing presidential hopefuls from both major parties, who have watched the election landscape shift with every change in the political calendar.

Trying to bring order to chaos, the national Democratic and Republican parties are undertaking efforts to strip delegates from Florida, Michigan and any other state that votes outside a prescribed window.  That would greatly diminish those states' clout because the nominating fight is all about winning delegates to the parties' national conventions.  Take away the delegates and there's less incentive for candidates to invest time and resources.

The political calculations are different for Republicans and Democrats, given each party's rules.

Primaries are meant to provide exposure, not closure.  May the residents of Florida and Michigan gather their senses and ponder the value of traditions.  Arbitrary customs may contaminate the culture.  Mores that make sense must remain intact.  Caucasus and early elections in small states such as Iowa and New Hampshire are an integral part of the primary process. 

In these territories, a Presidential hopeful is able to meet and greet the public face to face.  Aspirants learn what is truly important to the people, and the people acquire information about the candidate that they could not in a crowd.

Let us truly look at elections and consider the possibilities that are tried, and true.  Please America, remember this is not a popularity contest.  A primary is not the general election.  Purposes differ.  Take time.  Become acquainted with more than an image.  Give those that may appear unelectable a chance to appear before you. 

Voters: viability, just as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.  If you are unable to see the whites of the campaigners eyes in person, you know only the wonders of make-up, camera angles, political pundit reviews.  Please; I plead, analyze, assess the aspirants slowly, carefully, and if you can.  Do not allow your state to do as mine as done, eliminate access to Presidential hopefuls.