Campaigns respond to no-vote in Fla.

Posted: Monday, March 17, 2008 7:23 PM by Chuck Todd

From the Obama campaign: "“We hope that all parties can agree on a fair seating of the Florida delegates so that Florida can participate in the Democratic Convention, and we look forward to working with the Florida Democratic Party and competing vigorously in the state so that Barack Obama can put Florida back into the Democratic column in November.”

From the Clinton campaign: “Today’s announcement brings us no closer to counting the votes of the nearly 1.7 million people who voted in January. We hope the Obama campaign shares our belief that Florida’s voters must be counted and cannot be disenfranchised.”

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Comments

Your party made the rules......

Unless Hillary has a plan to replace Howard Dean with Bill Clinton as DNC Chairman they should keep it that way.....

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 7:31 PM)

Note the difference in the two statements. Obama is attempting to seek solidarity. Clinton is yelling "disenfranchisement". Florida is certainly back in the spotlight again, for all the wrong reasons! Hello President McCain.

Dee Jackson, Columbia, TN (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 7:35 PM)

Now you see,Florida Voters, that's what happens when you don't sieze the responsibility of your leaders, that is what happens when you are so afraid of your leaders, that is what happens when your leadership turns its back on you. I am ashamed that you are in my country Florida voters. You allowed your leadership, your republican leadership, to discount your votes to further their own political agenda (I here tell the same thing happens in Russia quite often these days.) And now--now--when you have the chance to force "your leadership" "who broke the rules" to own up, and cough-up the money for a reasonable, fair election, and your spokes persons says--you don't want to vote? How could this be. All I can figure is that the good people of Florida have been cowed into submission by their leadership. It's sad, very sad really--to think this should happen in America. People of Florida--where are your voices--make your leadership pay out of their own pockets if needs be! I'm for Obama, but I want you people, you chicken-littles, down in Florida to have a fair election--and fire your goverment officials.

Play it Again (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 7:38 PM)

Why is it that Florida always screws up our national elections? Ideally we could have a revote, but without that option the only real solution is to split the delegates 50-50 between candidates. It would be wrong to count (even in part) the results of an election where candidates couldn't campaign and voters believed their votes (or lack thereof) would not matter.

Rich, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:25 AM)

Awesome, the Florida Democratic Party will address this with the DNC and have their popular and delegate votes counted.

Hillary just cut Obama's popular vote lead in half. After the Michigan redo this will be a dead heat along with Hillary's strong support in Pennsylvania.

Democracy at work and not stripping the biggest swing-state of them all of anything.

Thanks for the news.

Liberals for Hillary.

Russell Gorall, Green Bay, Wisconsin (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:30 AM)

It appears to me that the Clinton's are try to buy votes.Fla. & Mich. knew what they were doing when they up'ed their date.It was a unfare primary being as only one candidate campained. Now that one wants to buy the states votes--UNREAL

James Rihn, Mercer,Pa (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:37 AM)

50/50..?

Greg (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:55 AM)

WE,THE PEOPLE HAS FORGIVEN FLORIDA FOR THE 2000-2004
BLOOPER...THEIR DECISION IS THEIR WAY OF APOLOGIZING FOR THE 2000-2004 BLUNDER(WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND!)

WE,THE PEOPLE OF THE "UNITED" STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION....KNOW THAT FLORIDA & MICHIGAN WAS DISOBEDIENCE & DISRESPECTFUL...FORGIVE THEM!

OBAMA, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DISOWN YOUR "UNCLE"...BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL PEOPLE AND YOU CAN'T TRACK CASH....STAY FOCUSED, LEAVE THE DISTRACTIONS/DISTURBANCE TO THE AGED,ANGRY AND EVIL PEOPLE....YOU CAN' CONTROL DEAN, CRIST, LEVIN OR BUSH....

M$ KITTI N THE CITTI (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:08 AM)

They should either re-vote or have a no vote. It is too late to change the rules in a contest so close

William Seeliger, Houston Texas (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:20 AM)

This ship is Bamb and going down and there is nothing Tim Russard, Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough, Chuck Todd and the other MSNBC Clinton haters can do. Pat Buccanan is the only person of reason on that station. Florida's vote should count the people who voted dedicated their time to exercise their franchise one of the greatest right and they should be heard. People made their decisions base on what they read and hear on the News. They don,t have to see them or attend rallies.

Kenne , Bronx, New York (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:26 AM)

WHO CARES HILLARY WHO I WAS FOR MAKES ME SICKTHEY ARE HELL BOUND ON GIVING THE PRESIDENT RACE TO CRAZY OLD MAN MARRIED TOLITTLE OLD BABIE DOLLI FEEL NO ONE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IN YEARS .WHY SHOULD WE CARE IF THEY GET TO VOTE IN THE LONG RUN THE NEWS MEDIA WILL PICK WHO THEY WANTANYWAY no one reads any more THEY WAIT FOR THE NEWS MEDIA TO REPORT BY THE WAY IM SICK OF MSNBC ,CNNN FOX ALL OF YOUhave turned me off.

LOUSTARKY,INDIANAPOLIS,IND. (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:00 AM)

redoing something always has so many flaws, besides a rule was broken and this would be unnecessarily expensive. it brings us to a situation where one candidate would benefit over the other which should never be the case. either we leave it alone or split 50/50 then this helps whichever candidate to try reach 2025 delegates.

moya chaambwa, lusaka, zambia, southern africa (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:02 AM)

If democrat loose to the general election, blame the Clintons.

This whole drama is caused by the Clitons and they should be ashamed of their selfs.

Now, it about a Church pastor, and few weeks ago, people are saying OBAMA is a Muslim.

lol American wake up.

So now you agrees OBAMA is a Christian, but to attack him with the previous sermon from his ex pastor?

Our generation will for ever be bitter to you Clinton, for this Damage.

God bless you all

MASE, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:09 AM)

The Clinton campaign is again looking for an unorthodox sleight-of-hand to capture most of Florida's pledged delegates. The only fair split is "in proportion to the pledged delegates already won by the 2 candidates in the states that obeyed the rules". Anything else will unfairly favor the Clinton in a state where both campaigns did not campaign. And where there is no campaign, Senator Clinton is always ahead because of name recognition. Senator needs a campaign to have any chance at closing the gap. Fair is fair.

ChenaMax (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:11 AM)

Typical, typical. Sen Obama's campaign talks about reaching a fair accomodation involving all the parties, and expresses a desire to compete fairly for FL delegates. Sen Clinton's campaign has a high-falutin' reason for letting her change the rules mid-campaign and keep an advantage she gained in a contest that was not fairly competed. Please explain to me again, how exactly is this any different from the win at all costs, toxic partisanship the Republicans have been practicing since at least the beginning of the Clinton Administration? What does an "effective agent for change her whole life" actually mean in this context?

Matt Shirley, Ewa Beach, HI (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:14 AM)

It sure sounds like Barack Obama prefers seating delegates over counting actual votes. So I guess it's back to Bush v. Gore in Florida?

Jan, Nashua, NH (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:02 AM)

If the monster was in the lead the Clinton campaign would be singing a different tune.

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:16 AM)

They didn't allow our votes to count. The Democratic party must be "punished," as Florida voters were. I'm voting Republican in November.

Carol, Merritt Island, Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:40 AM)

What about the one's that didn't get to vote because they were told that their vote would not count? Does Hilary think about those disenfranchised voters? She only really cares about getting iunto the Whitehouse at any cost!!!

Byron, NJ (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 6:49 AM)

Count them.

Is this a democracy or a Howard Dean power trip?

Russell Gorall, Green Bay, WI (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:06 AM)

Hello! Am I dreaming? Wasn't Florida punished? Does anyone remember that? Why are we still discussing this?

LH Dallas (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:11 AM)

Kiss Florida good-bye in the general.

A Sad and Mad Clinton Supporter

PS Splitting the delegates is not democracy - it's plandering.

John Stevens, Hillsdale IN (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:14 AM)

Florida will not be in the Democratic column if the DNC ignores the voters (who did not break any rules). The DNC just asked me for money and I told them to talk to me again when there is a plan to comply with the wish of the voters in MI and FL. I urge other Democrats to do the same. What good is a party if it doesn't listen to people and punishes them for the actions of party elites?

Trev (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:41 AM)

Let us not forget Florida's vote, and let us not forget the circumstance,under which these votes were made.
If the two candidates were equal in their popularity
before the voting took place, I could understand accepting the outcome as somewhat fair. But Sen. Clinton, the first lady for 8 long years, gives her just a little bit of a edge, wouldn't you say. She won the vote in this disqualified primary by 17%
points. In all primaries and caucuses held thus far,
that Obama has actively campaigned, she has only won two by that margin. Guessed which ones? You guessed correctly, Arkansas and New York, three if you count Rhode Island. So it is very unlikely that she could win by 17% points in a contested race in Florida. So the only way to include Florida's delegates would be to work out some type of average from all their previous contest, omitting their home states. For the record, Obama has won 22 contest by more than 17% points, 19 of these by more than 20+ % points. Sen. Clinton, has yet to win, in total, 15 contest, but it's still considered a close race. WOW! If the
situation was reversed, do you think Obama would be allowed by the party to continue?

Rod De', Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:46 AM)

thank you dem. activists for the poorest selection of candidates in three generations. both are deeply flawed for the general election thus insuring a mccain victory.this means no healthcare reform, no bankruptcy reform of the reform, no rescending of nclb, unpayable gas and oil prices. the big money people will continue to rule the roost and status quo maintained. with mccain look forward to a new draft and more war. no help for the middle class.he talks reform but drinks from the lobbiests trough. see KEATING 5. see the crew he is hanging around with.

deomcrats have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. at least with kerry the attack issues were made up(swift boating,) these two have made their own choices, and after 56 years of fighting for democratic policies I am now as of two days go, an independent.

Yes I realize that you may say big deal he's only one guy, but if the dems have lost me, there must be milions more out there like me that the democratic party is no longer speaking for.

I would not continue to attend a church with a philosophy opposed to my own, that is just a silly notion. these mini clips of the hate filled speech will doom him in the general election. it may not be fair but that is life. and I am sorely disappointed.

leon houston (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:57 AM)

Live by the rules, lose by the rules. The Clinton camp was not concerned about Michigan and Florida, until she started her losing streak after SC and Super Tuesday. Now all of a sudden, it matters, and they want to change the rules in the middle of the contest. An equitable way that Florida's delegates could be seated, is to distribute the delegates on 52%-48% split between the candidates, since HRC won the state in January, but I am stickler for the rules. Florida disenfranchsied themselves, as did Michigan.

David C, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:58 AM)

Mr. Todd, can you please explain the Popular Vote, as it relates to Caucuses. I want to know how do you count the total number of votes cast at a Caucus. The popular vote argument that is being used needs to be explained.
So Can You Please Explain this to me and the viewers.
Thank you, and I think you are a great asset to the People and MSNBC

Haseeb Hosein, Boston, Ma (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 7:59 AM)

Both Democratic parties in Michigan and Florida knew the rules, agreed to them, as did Clinton and Obama. Despite this, Michigan and Florida went ahead anyway and changed the dates of their primaries. The DNC applied the rules and declared that neither state's delegates wold be seated. If either or both are allowed to be seated anyway, then the Democratic Party can forget any possible claim to supporting the rule of law. It would show that rules/laws don't mean anything if the outcome is not what they desired. This is a sad commentary on the level of honesty among the citizenry.

John Roney (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:00 AM)

The Florida Democratic Party should have fought the Republican led Legislature and voted no to moving the primary date. That said, to punish the VOTERS of Florida for this mistake is immoral. Clinton is leading many polls today and in fact is shown to beat McCain by a wider margin than Obama yet there is little coverage in the press of this fact. So if Florida again becomes the key to tipping the numbers (this time to Obama), you will find many Democrats around the country disengaged. Just what the Republicans want.

Monty (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:04 AM)

I believe Flordia votes should be counted. This is a democratic country and any other way is not right

Brad Giles, Durham, NH (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:04 AM)

Those of us at DailyKos appreciate your support and we extend a hand to you with your help.

We are all working together.

cabaretic, Birmingham, Al (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:05 AM)

As a Florida Voter and Democrat, I hope they count the Florida vote at face value, I will not accept anything less. The talk of counting the vote as a "half" vote is a slap in the face. The democratic party has been in disarray in Florida for sometime and this is not likely to help their image.

Frank Wasdin, Orange Park, Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:06 AM)

there was a problem with florida when gore ran (jeb helped his brother out). and a problem now with florida. why not take away all of florida's delegates permanently and just let the people vote in november.

bren, streetsville, ontario (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:12 AM)

what did I miss the memo where only middle of night people may post? I think this speech of Obama is an obamination. The fact he wouldnt take questions but give a speech says his writers werent threw telling him how he felt. I hope we dont go to the dna crap. He pulls that out when convenient. Sure wasnt thinking of mom when going to that church or when ralling the blacks. This wont see daylight prob is ok there are other sites

ep-ny (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:17 AM)

As a Florida voter, it's sad what is happening in our state. Thanks to a Republican Governor who decided to ignore the rules at the beginning and now expects we are to believe he's actually doing something to make our vote count. If he cared, he would not have broken the rules plain and simple. Why is Florida's outcome always changed by the politician's in top office?

Macky Diaz, Miami, FL (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:24 AM)

I have just came off of the web-site where I saw a recent photo of people of Iran burning the American and Isreal flags in the middle of there city streets.Now Obama wants to invite the leaders of these people for dinner to talk of peace and future friendhips. Hell-no.It's there religous beliefs to hate us, and nothing will ever change that. We have turn away from them altogether and become the independant nation that we once were.We have the technology and the resorces to hold our own. Obama dosen't see it that way.I'm voting for Hillary if she gets nominated,if not I'm voting for McCane!!!!!!

William Eaton,Lindide, WV. (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:27 AM)

The Democratic Party has hurt themselves and the Country. It is a Constitutional right to vote and be counted. I am voting for Obama and Serious Much Needed Change In America.

The Eagle Spirit (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:28 AM)

The Democratic Party has hurt themselves and the Country. It is a Constitutional right to vote and be counted. I am voting for Obama and Serious Much Needed Change In America.

The Eagle Spirit (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:28 AM)

Well Fl. can sit out the GE too. Since they don't count anyway that is what they will do. I will sit it out too, this fiasco is not worth voting for, with, or against!
Can you all say president McWAR!

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:30 AM)

What none of the news reports are mentioning is the fact that the vote in Florida was primarily about the property tax referendum. The only people who came out to vote were those concerned about that issue. There was no concern on the part of any Floridians I know and spoke with about Obama or Clinton. We were concerned with lowering our property taxes. None, I repeat, none of the citizens of Florida living in rental housing came out to vote. They had no motivation to do so. They did not own property and there was no Democratic primary (our vote did not count). We (the concerned voters) had no idea Obama and Clinton would be on the ballot.

We do not feel we are being disenfranchised. We want our property taxes and our homeowner's insurance reduced. If you do not own property in South Florida then you simply do not understand.

The Clinton campaign is desperate and clutching at straws. Florida only counts in the delegate race if we have a complete statewide re-vote.

Darrell Gonzales Boynton Beach, Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:32 AM)

The Clinton campaign will try anything to get elected.

Marion (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:38 AM)

Being the media is bias and only covers one side of the story...

Obama Denounces Controversial Remarks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7piGy0u43c

Forward this to everyone you know and have them do the same (Yup, that means all of your republican friends as well :)

J. Doe (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:38 AM)

Over 1.7 million people had been overlooked in their right to vote.Mich are doing their re-vote I don't see why Floria cannot. Hillary made a great soultion, to keep the votes that had been voted,or have a revote.Obama made this hard and stacky for the voter of Florida,Sure he doesn't want a revote in Floria.More are for Hillary Clinton in Floria.and more delgates are in floria to pick up,Obama knows that. Tony Rezko, Obama knew of his doings. Jan Obama even stated that he had no idae of Rezso's doing in Illgale hot water,but yet in 2005 Obama ask Rezko in quetionable reports,Obama said he ask Rezko about them.Obama said rezko Issued him that there was nothin wrong.and Obama said I'm trudting my instinks. 2007 Obama stated that he and Rezko had breakfast and lunch together at times, but talked daily on the phone.We have thounsand of fundraising donors.and Obama reported that Rezko gave 150.000 in money.but opps...Obama got caught..it was 250.000 When ask about that,Obama said I must have over looked that.What else is he overlooking.Opps!Rev,J wright. I don't believ that story he gave.come on 20 years.and 30 for Rev J wright's and all of a sudden Rev J wright's speeks like this in church about american holding a picture of the twin towers.Blaming americans. The chicken are coming home america.What's that to mean. and the tax records that he want's Hillary Clinton to releash.Obama said he did his releash.Obama did not.Obama releashed one full year of his taxes of 2007.but he only releashed bits and pieces of all the other tax records. Hillary has been for health car,education, "Everything that's going around in our county today and yesterday.We already have paperless hih tech in our hospitals.Which Obama says he want's to cost cost on.To late Obama that's already in the hospitals now.Floria people were discounted not only their votes but from being notice as people,and their right's to vote.

Tom PA (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:45 AM)

Why does the Clinton camp response use a unique font? One more indication that they can't do anything right.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:50 AM)

bombarded when and If he gets to the GE. There will be SPEAKERS BLASTING WRIGHT SERMONS EVERYWHERE!
McWar will have a talking tee shirt with WRIGHT sermons printed in LOUD letters!
Signs will blink all night with Wright spewing all the wrong WORDS!
The repukes will smash OBAMA!

PRESIDENT McWAR (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:53 AM)

We have had too many situations of disenfranchised voters over the years. Regardless of how it is eventually resolved, the Florida and Michigan delegates must have their states' votes counted. Arbitrary rules of the DNC should not negatively impact two large and influential states. The primaries were held appropriately, if not clearly within the rules of the DNC...I'd seat the delegates as currently voted!

Pat from Hendersonville, TN (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:53 AM)

OBama is a joke! Obama is a troll!

He will bebombarded when and If he gets to the GE. There will be SPEAKERS BLASTING WRIGHT SERMONS EVERYWHERE!
McWar will have a talking tee shirt with WRIGHT sermons printed in LOUD letters!
Signs will blink all night with Wright spewing all the wrong WORDS!
The repukes will smash OBAMA!

PRESIDENT McWAR (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:55 AM)

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:00 AM)

Did the Clinton campaign use a bigger font?

Seth, Kalamazoo, MI (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:00 AM)

Obama is a phoney. He claims to be for change. But, he's no different than any other politician.
The only reason he doesn't want the Florida Primary to count as is, or to be re-voted upon is because he lost, and he knows he would lose again.
All of us need to take a second look at this guy, in lieu of recent developements with regard to him contradicting earlier statements he made about Rezko-Gate and his knowledge of Rezko's shady business dealings, AND the absolutely horrible comments that were made by his pastor.

A Very Concerned Registered Democrat (Sent Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:03 AM)

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