Detours: a country in search of direction
On the eve of the election, a reporter and photographer set out for Washington, via America. We tell stories from seven towns, touching on seven issues from politics and real life.
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Game show themes
These themes are probably going to make some of you have flashbacks to wasted mornings or afternoons spent sprawled in front of the TV.
WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton insists that counting Florida could still help her net the party's presidential nomination, but that net has developed some holes.
Sen. John Edwards' endorsement this week of Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination puts 13 Florida delegates in play, assuming the state's delegation is eventually seated at the party's convention.
If those delegates follow Edwards' lead and support Obama — and at least half already have decided to do so, according to a survey by the St. Petersburg Times — Clinton's margin over Obama would shrink by one-third, undermining one of her key arguments for remaining in the race.
Some Edwards delegates say their support will make it easier for Obama and Clinton, along with the state and national parties, to reach a compromise for seating Florida's delegates.
"If the delegate count is more balanced, I think you're going to find more acceptance from everyone," said E. Alan Brock, 27, of Wakulla County, an Edwards' delegate and president of the Florida Young Democrats.
Clinton won 105 Florida delegates in the Jan. 29 primary, compared to 67 for Obama and 13 for Edwards. But the Democratic National Committee ruled the election didn't count because Florida, like Michigan, held its primary earlier than rules allowed.
None of the candidates campaigned in Florida or Michigan, and only Clinton's name was on the ballot in Michigan.
Clinton wants to count the elections in both states, which would give her a boost in delegates as well as in overall votes. Obama has said he wants to seat the states' delegates at the party's convention in Denver, but says it would be unfair to fully acknowledge those primaries now.
"If Edwards' delegates throw our support to Obama the way Edwards did, then Sen. Obama is more likely to give us a nod," said Fred McDowell, 58, an Edwards delegate and chairman of the Lake County Democratic Executive Committee.
"When you add the 13 to what he's got, that brings him almost equal — she doesn't gain anything and he doesn't lose anything" by seating Florida.
It may not be necessary. The DNC's rules committee is scheduled to hear an appeal of the loss of Florida's delegates on May 31, and an Obama spokesman said he expects a compromise for seating Florida's delegates to emerge that day or shortly after.
Obama has 1,895 delegates to Clinton's 1,718, with 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination, according to the Associated Press. She's unlikely to catch him in the five remaining primaries and hopes to convince uncommitted superdelegates, the party leaders and elected officials who can support whomever they want, that she's more likely to beat John McCain.
Florida remains a big part of her case:
• Counting Michigan and Florida gives Clinton a slight edge in the popular vote tally, though that's a little imprecise because in caucus states a solid figure for voter turnout is hard to come by.
• A Democrat who can win Florida, a swing state, has a good chance of winning the presidency.
• Fully counting both states would increase the number of delegates needed to win to 2,210. That would buy her more time.
Obama's support among Edwards' delegates doesn't really change Clinton's calculations, but it does give Obama more leverage when it's time to decide how to allocate Florida's delegates.
"It's still making the math not in her favor," said Joseph Beuttenmuller, 32, an Edwards delegate from Lake Mary. "Maybe now it will settle things sooner."
Wes Allison can be reached at allison@sptimes.com or (202) 463-0577.
[Last modified: May 16, 2008 05:16 PM]
Comments on this article
by JH
May 16, 2008 3:49 PM
So, the Breck girl endorses O-racist. We are finally back to being a leading country and the dhims want to irritate our good friends, Colombia, and appease our enemies, Iran. O-racist is nothing more than sharpton-jackson of 21st century.
by geezersgal
May 16, 2008 3:11 PM
Tina, the dem primary is not winner-take-all so I'm not sure what you mean. Obama shouldn't get any delegates? YOUR vote would still go to Hillary. What's the problem?
by Tina
May 16, 2008 1:37 PM
Amazing. Florida votes Clinton, and you have the dreamy-eyed gall to propose that "if only" people could see Obama's superiority and vote for him, our votes can count? I voted for Hillary. Throwing my vote to the other candidate isn't counting it.
by Linda
May 16, 2008 1:37 PM
Aracely - I've got a news flash for you: every single President we've ever had was a rookie until his 2nd term in office. Hmmmm...I'm just guessing, but I imagine that not very many folks have praised you for possessing an abundance of common sense.
by Laura
May 16, 2008 1:34 PM
This country has come down in the world because of our current president. Obama represents a clear change of course, which we need and which will signal to the world that we are ready to move on from endless war and are, indeed, a true melting pot.
by Nel
May 16, 2008 10:37 AM
I am an older, white, Jewish woman who definitely believes that Barack Obama is the best chance we have at getting this country back to where we once were as the best nation in the world. I am sick of the xenophobic, uneducated masses spouting hate!
by vic
May 16, 2008 10:06 AM
Let the Democratic Party fall in coming November, obviously, Obama is a candidate without fundamental supporters in red & big states. All the white voters, women voters and Jewish voters are against him entirely.
by Perry
May 16, 2008 10:00 AM
Obama can't win Florida. He can't win, period. Dems have rejected their stronger, more electable candidates and are stuck with a weakened, damaged statement of liberal self-righteousness. Obama is the affirmative action candidate. Unelectable.
by geezer
May 16, 2008 10:00 AM
There absolutely must be some punishment such as cutting the delegates in half like the republicans. Otherwise states will continue to jump each other until our primary season is 2 years long! We teach our children to follow rules or be punished.
by Aracely
May 16, 2008 9:57 AM
FL and MI. should be counted is part of America. This will make the party look good and I will continue been a Democrat. This unresolved problem is what's separating the Democrats and NOT Mrs. Clinton. As woman I feel proud for what she's doing.
by Aracely
May 16, 2008 9:57 AM
Umm. Would you trust two rookies in the White House?
This country is too important to the world to see it coming more down than we are already crossing by.
by Jerome
May 16, 2008 9:56 AM
Hillary was the only name on the ballot in Michigan. When asked at the time why she left her name on the ballot, she stated that it didn't matter because the delegates would not be counted. Now we know the truth.
by Alex
May 16, 2008 9:53 AM
Lets see....West Virginia,Kentucky...maybe the new campaign slogan should be "Trailer parks for Hillary".
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