Citing what they say is an increased likelihood that a Democratic presidential candidate could win Florida in 2008, the state’s Democratic members of Congress have asked the Democratic National Committee to resolve the conflict over the state’s banned national convention delegation.

“The demographics in Florida have changed, and we have a real chance to win our State for the Democratic nominee in November,” the nine Florida congressional Democrats said in a letter to DNC Chairman Howard Dean. They noted that in April, Florida Democrats overtook Republicans in Hispanic voter registration for the first time on record.

The Floridians—Sen. Bill Nelson, delegation Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar and seven other House members—also noted that recent polls show Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tied with or beating John McCain in Florida.

“If the DNC does not bring to an end this ongoing controversy ... with the seating of Florida’s full delegation at the Convention in August, it will be near impossible for us to win our state in November,” they said.

Currently, the Florida convention delegation has been banned because the state held its primary earlier than party rules allow. The DNC’s rules committee will consider a challenge to that ruling May 31.

In a public letter to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton accuses him of being unwilling to count the votes from the Florida and Michigan primaries and urges him to discuss the situation and find a solution.

That’s something of a reversal. For several weeks, Obama has said he’s willing to negotiate a compromise solution, while Clinton has stuck to the position that the states’ primaries should be counted in full and the delegations seated as if their primary dates hadn’t violated party rules.

In the letter, Clinton says Obama didn’t support efforts to hold new votes in Florida or Michigan.

“Your commitment to the voters of these states must be clearly stated and your support for a fair and quick resolution must be clearly demonstrated,” she says. “I am asking you to join me in working with representatives from Florida and Michigan and the Democratic National Committee to arrive at a solution that honors the votes of the millions of people who went to the polls in Florida and Michigan.”

Failure to resolve the controversy means the eventual nominee will be “hamstrung” in trying to win the general election, she said.

Evoking the memory of the 2000 presidential recount, Clinton adds, “Republicans won an election by successfully opposing a fair counting of votes in Florida. As Democrats, we must reject any proposals that would do the same.”

The Clinton campaign has acknowledged that she needs the delegates she won in both the Michigan and Florida primaries to have a chance of taking the nomination from Obama, who’s leading in the delegate race.

In a conference call with reporters earlier this week, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe reiterated that the Obama campaign is willing to consider a compromise, but the Clinton hasn’t shown willingness to compromise.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who’s been jetting from Washington to Florida a lot these days, landed at MacDill Air Force Base today and made a special appearance at a luncheon of the Military Officers Association of America.

He shook hands, posed for photos and thanked the members of the armed services for their dedication to the country.

“My main message, honestly, is to say thank you,” he said.

Later, he fielded questions from reporters, including the all-important query about his love life. As those in national political circles focus on the governor as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain, tongues are wagging about Carole Rome, the New York City socialite whom Crist has squired around New York, Washington and Miami recently and introduced as his girlfriend, sparking mentions in national gossip columns..

When asked today if he were getting engaged any time soon, the governor simply said, “I don’t know.”

It’s a tradition in Florida—after the legislative session ends, the political fundraising season starts. Gov. Charlie Crist will hold a fundraiser for the state GOP Monday in Pinellas Park, then his annual Keys fishing fundraiser May 30.

The Monday event will be the home of Brent Sembler in Pinellas Park, one of Crist’s leading statewide financial supporters. It includes a $2,500-per-person VIP reception and a $1,000-per-person general reception.

The fishing trip, in Key West, will benefit the state party’s federal account, used to help candidates for federal office.

Advertisement