Florida Moves Primary Up, May Lose Influence

The Great State of Florida, where bungled elections are the norm, has decided to move its primary up to January 29, 2008. The intention is to increase the influence of the state in the presidential selection process. As usual, Florida’s political leadership can’t seem to follow simple instructions. By placing the primary on that day, the state will lose delegates to the nominating conventions, and candidates who campaign there will be denied representation in the state’s delegation. This is exactly the opposite of what the politicos there say they want. The state isn’t doing its reputation any good.

Florida has a good case for trying to be more influential. It is much more representative of the US at large that a homogenous state like Iowa or New Hampshire. It’s also bigger, meaning that to be taken seriously a candidate has to put together a big organization with a big budget quickly. The defenders of the New Hampshire primary like to say that their approach forces candidates to meet with average voters and it allows voters to get to know the candidates. That’s nice, but New Yorkers, Californians, Texas and Floridians don’t get that luxury, so why does New Hampshire? Florida ought to count for more than New Hampshire if one is to be democratic about it.

Like most appeals to democracy, though, this one falls apart when one looks at the rules by which the Democrats and Republicans nominate their presidential candidates. Both parties penalize any state (other than New Hampshire) that holds its primary prior to February 5. In order to get nominated by either party, a candidate must assemble a majority of the delegates to the national nominating convention. Winning Florida may be a useful media event, but the delegates are the real prize.

CNN reports, “Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Stacie Paxton said the state would lose 50 percent of its delegates and all its superdelegates -- typically members of Congress. Any candidate who campaigns in Florida for a primary earlier than February 5 will be ineligible for receiving any of the state’s delegates, Paxton said.” So, if the top candidates decide to go for a media event, they get no delegates, and Florida has fewer delegates than it otherwise would send to the convention.

On the Republican side, CNN observes, “The Republican National Committee has warned it will strip 50 percent of Florida’s delegates if the state’s primary is moved. The RNC vow to enforce the rules places its general chairman -- Florida Sen. Mel Martinez -- in an awkward position. Speaking to RNC state chairmen in South Carolina on Friday, Martinez promised his home state will face sanctions.”

In its desire to be more important, the great and good of Florida have effectively diminished their state’s overall importance. Yes, winning the popular vote in Florida might bring in more money, and it may well result in a boost in the polls, but if it costs a candidate delegates, it isn’t worth it. What is it about elections that Florida has such trouble understanding?

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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