Decision Day on Florida Delegates

By Lesley Clark and David Lightman, The Miami Herald

May 31–WASHINGTON — Democratic stalwarts from across Florida will appeal for political relevance Saturday when they try to persuade the national party to give them a say in the presidential nominating contest.

Their best hope: seating half the state’s delegation, or every member of the delegation with half a vote.

With only three primaries remaining, the meeting represents what could be Hillary Clinton’s last big stand as the Democratic Party’s rules committee decides whether Florida Democrats — and those in Michigan, as well — will be given a voice and seats at the party’s national convention. Both states were punished for participating in an unsanctioned primary.

Despite the hype — hundreds of media outlets have requested credentials for the event and 500 audience tickets were snapped up online in minutes — the outcome seems unlikely to tip the election. Clinton needs a big victory from the 30-member panel, which is expected to meet all day, and her supporters plan a rally to help press her case that all the delegates from both states should be counted.

But Clinton, who has pushed for months to count the states, on Friday seemed to back off earlier remarks that she’d take an adverse ruling all the way to the party’s convention this summer.

Florida Democratic Party chief Karen Thurman said in an e-mail to voters late Friday that she expects the committee to restore at least half the delegates — a move that wouldn’t help Clinton nearly as much as she needs.

But it would be enough for a party that sat and watched as Republicans campaigned in Florida and mocked the voiceless Democrats.

“I sincerely hope that this meeting brings closure to a dispute that has gone on for way too long,” Thurman said, noting that restoring half the delegation would put her party “on par” with Florida Republicans, who lost just half their delegates for moving up the primary.

Sen. Bill Nelson, who unsuccessfully sued the Democratic National Committee, accusing it of stripping away the voting rights of Florida Democrats, will appeal for mercy on behalf of the state party.

Clinton will be represented by state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, and Barack Obama by Rep. Robert Wexler of Boca Raton.

At issue is an appeal authored by DNC member Jon Ausman, a Tallahassee Democrat who has asked former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and Janee Murphy of Tampa to speak to the committee Saturday to help make his case.

Ausman said he selected Murphy, an African American and Barack Obama supporter, and Martinez, a Cuban American and Clinton supporter, to highlight the opportunities for Democrats in Florida.

‘GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY’

“I’m going to tell them we have a golden opportunity in Florida where for the first time Hispanic Democrats outnumber Hispanic Republicans,” said Martinez. “But how can we tell these new voters that they should be voting for us when their votes didn’t count?”

Ausman will make a decidedly less passionate argument.

“They’re all going to talk about the importance of our voters,” Ausman said. “I’m here to talk about the rules, and the rules say they screwed up.”

Ausman argues that the rules committee went overboard in August by taking away all the delegates when the rules called for a 50 percent punishment.

It may find a receptive audience.

Those on the DNC Rules and Bylaws committee generally aren’t rabid partisans. They tend to be insiders who want the party to prosper — hardly the kind of politicians who are likely to tie the institution in procedural knots that could jeopardize its chances of winning in November.

“Everyone on that committee has a real institutional concern for the Democratic Party,” said committee member Donald Fowler, a Clinton backer and former party chairman.

For Clinton, the meeting represents what could be her last major effort to pull even with Obama — and bolster her contention that she’s won more of the big states that will be key in November.

Clinton’s campaign has long pushed for seating all the delegates and a coalition of activist groups said it’ll bring in busloads of Clinton supporters from across the country. Several said they’d support Clinton challenging any outcome that doesn’t result in full representation.

“That’s like saying we didn’t have an election. That’s unacceptable,” said U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat who said she’s been invited to speak at “two or three” rallies near the Washington hotel hosting the meeting.

Among those who plan to protest is Millie Herrera, a potential Clinton convention delegate and the president of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus of Florida.

“When I vote, I cast one vote,” she said. “It’s not 50 percent or 80 percent. I don’t think the votes, or the voters, should be discounted.”

Obama’s camp is urging its supporters to stay home and watch the meeting on television — most of the cable networks plan daylong coverage.

‘THE HIGH GROUND’

“Sen. Obama has held the moral high ground on this issue,” said campaign advisor David Wilhelm. “We’re not going to turn this thing into a circus. We seek a fair resolution. We want the delegates seated. We’re willing to compromise.”

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