Florida's presidential primary battle lives on

[csziggy]

By Jim Ash • Florida Capital Bureau Chief • November 28, 2008

The fight over Florida's presidential primary has taken a new turn, and a Democratic activist from Tallahassee is back in federal court.

Jon Ausman, a member of the Democratic National Committee, has joined with Republican voters to ask a federal judge to strike the Florida law that moved Florida's primary from March to Jan. 29.

Ausman sued when Gov. Charlie Crist and the Republican-dominated Legislature changed the primary date in 2007, violating Democratic and Republican national party rules that prohibited all but a few states from holding a primary before Feb. 5.

The national parties threatened to strip Florida of its delegates to the nominating conventions but later backed down. That prompted attorneys for the state to argue earlier this month that Ausman's suit should be dismissed because it was "moot."

But Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle gave Ausman and his attorneys another shot, allowing them to amend their complaint. Ausman originally was seeking an emergency injunction.

Filed earlier this week on behalf of all of the state's Democratic and Republican voters, it alleges that the Florida law is unconstitutional because it infringes on the rights of political parties to set their own rules.

"I would like to see the Legislature reined in in its interference in internal party affairs," Ausman said Friday.

Lawyers for the state have until Dec. 14 to file a response.

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20081128/BREAKINGNEWS/81128014

[FreeJG]

1. Me too...

"I would like to see the Legislature reined in in its interference in internal party affairs,"

I would also like a state chair, who can recognize where the actual problem is coming from!

Thurman said wait for three weeks, she was going to speak to Howard Dean! I called the state party, because in three weeks, the legislature will have voted.

Thurman should have instructed all 67 county chairs to GET A BUS!!! Fill it up!! All head for the capitol. 6700 people, the media would have reported on this correctly, instead of telling the public it was the democrats moving the primary.

Thurman must go!