Posted on 10/23/2003 4:14:26 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
MIAMI -- The Democratic National Committee and all nine of the party's presidential candidates asked the Florida Democratic Party on Wednesday to abandon plans for a "straw poll" in December, arguing it would drain resources from early primary contests.
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe and the candidates told Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox in a letter that it would be "potentially divisive" and violate party rules.
A straw poll at Florida's Dec. 5-7 convention at the Coronado Springs Resort could provide an early indicator of strength in a state that holds one-tenth the electoral votes needed to name the next president.
"Should a decision be made to hold a straw poll, it would make it impossible for us to attend the State Convention and any potential straw poll therefore would not be competitive," said the letter, which carried the signatures of all nine candidates.
Maddox said that the decision on whether to hold the straw poll would be up to a Nov. 16 state central committee vote.
"There's a tremendous amount of frustration among Florida activists that so much attention is going to small states with early caucuses and primaries, when Florida is a major battleground state," said Maddox.
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean, who signed the letter, had earlier sent out e-mails to supporters trying to gain support in the straw poll.
Sen. John Edwards had also expressed interest in competing in a straw poll once Florida Sen. Bob Graham dropped out of the race.
The Edwards and Dean campaigns did not immediately returned phone messages left Wednesday evening.
Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter got early boosts in their presidential bids when they won straw ballots at Florida's 1991 and 1975 Democratic convention.
But for the Democratic National Committee informal and indecisive straw polls are considered a drain of resources for candidates competing in not only Iowa and New Hampshire but also many more primary states in January, February and March.
Though Florida's primary election will not be held until March 9, the party's nomination will likely be decided before then.
"I think the candidates ignore Florida at their own peril," said Maddox.
Oh, I SEE: it was good enough for the Florida Democrats to have a poll if it helped TheBentOne and ThePacifist, but NOT the 8 Dwarfs.
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