Florida Dems to Stick With Jan. 29 Primary

Unfazed by threat of DNC penalties and candidate boycotts
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 23, 2007 1:05 PM CDT
Florida Dems to Stick With Jan. 29 Primary
Karen L. Thurman, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, speaks to reporters after testifying before the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007. Democrats decided Saturday to strip Florida of all its presidential convention delegates unless...   (Associated Press)

Defiant Florida Democrats are poised to flout national party rules and push forward with a state primary on Jan. 29. The move means the DNC will strip Florida of its 210 nominating convention delegates and major Democratic candidates will not campaign in the state, reports the AP. "I'm not concerned with the DNC," one Florida party leader said.

DNC rules allow only four states—Florida not among them—to hold primaries before Feb. 5. The Florida Dems' move, seen as a bid for high turnout, follows Florida Republicans' earlier decision to set their primary for Jan. 29. "On Jan. 29, 2.5 million Floridians are going to the polls, and that's more telling than any caucus in Iowa," said one Dem. (More Florida stories.)

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