Obama camp resistant to mail-in vote
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/03/12/art.obamamail.ap.jpg caption="Barack Obama's campaign said Wednesday it has reservations with a mail-in revote."](CNN) - Obama campaign manager David Plouffe expressed strong reservations on Wednesday to the prospect of a mail-in revote in either Florida or Michigan.
"I do think there's real questions about the mail-in option here," Plouffe said on a conference call with reporters. "These are very complicated elections to put on. In the state of Oregon which is kind of the standard for this, it took well over 10 years to get comfortable doing this statewide, to have signature verification in place, lots of alternatives for people to vote in person, there's questions around the list, both of these states have justice department review, that would need to take place, so there's a lot of questions."
The mail-in proposal is being strongly advocated by some leading Democrats including Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who has said that it is the only reasonable and affordable option available to the state. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has also expressed support for a mail-in vote as one way to allow the state’s delegation to be seated at the party’s national convention this summer.
"Every voter gets a ballot in the mail. It's comprehensive. You get to vote if you're in Iraq or in a nursing home," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday.
But a majority of the Florida’s Democratic delegation said in a statement Tuesday night they oppose both a primary re-vote and vote-by-mail.
"We are committed to working with the DNC, the Florida State Democratic party, our Democratic leaders in Florida, and our two candidates to reach an expedited solution that ensures our 210 delegates are seated," the delegation's statement read. "Our House delegation is opposed to a mail-in campaign or any redo of any kind."
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Plouffe said the campaign will ultimately follow the DNC's resolution with regards to seating the delegates. But he sharply criticized the Clinton campaign for "trying to change the rules."
"Senator Clinton said she was playing by the rules through the early sates, we played by the rules," he said. "Now when they believe it serves their political interests, they're trying to change the rules and say these elections should count for something. We think that's the kind of political maneuvering and calculation that voters are tired of."
Responding to Plouffe's comments, the Clinton campaign noted that the Illinois senator co-sponsored a bill last June that "would establish a vote by mail grant program."
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
I'm so sick of all this, I'm really ready to vote McCain. If he can promise me he'll shut down the border and send all the illegal aliens back, I'm voting for him.
Rush is right about the Clintons, and about democrats in general. I hate to say it, but he's right. No more for me.
Of course... or any other kind of re-vote for that matter. They just dont want to count Florida and Michigan now do they.
Lets not make a bad situation worse, just hold caucuses.
I agree. Move on.
I voted already in Michigan. How many more times are they going to try to get it right to suit Jennifer Granholm's liking?
To paraphrase The Princess Bride, "Impossible, I don't think that word means what you think it means." For all of you mathematically challenged Obamatons — while it wouldn't be easy, it is possible that Clinton could take the lead in pledged delegates, not to mention super delegates. Do some basic arithmetic and stop just quoting your clearly uninformed brethren. It's not impossible for Clinton to win, just as I hope it's not impossible for you to start looking at the issues and making your decisions based on those issues instead of just mindlessly throwing mud at the other candidate and her motives. I still hold hope that you are not all so misguided that you continue to fall for the smear campaign that was started against the Clinton's by the republicans back in the 90s. That campaign, after all, was perpetrated by those same conservative republicans you claim to hate so much. To be honest, based on your comments here, you sound just like all the trailer park republicans, completely unaware how you continually stand up against your own self-interest.
To paraphrase The Princess Bride, "'Impossible'...I don't think that word means what you think it means." For all of you mathematically challenged Obamatons — while it wouldn't be easy, it is possible that Clinton could take the lead in pledged delegates, not to mention super delegates. Do some basic arithmetic and stop just quoting your clearly uninformed brethren. It's not impossible for Clinton to win, just as I hope it's not impossible for you to start looking at the issues and making your decisions based on those issues instead of just mindlessly throwing mud at the other candidate and her motives. I still hold hope that you are not all so misguided that you continue to fall for the smear campaign that was started against the Clinton's by the republicans back in the 90s. That campaign, after all, was perpetrated by those same conservative republicans you claim to hate so much. To be honest, based on your comments here, you sound just like all the trailer park republicans, completely unaware how you continually stand up against your own self-interest.
Good for them. A mail-in vote would be like saying "please make this election as fraudulent as possible"
Obama doesnt want a mail-in vote because he knows that all the seniors, disabled and people who dont get off work to stand in a line to vote will vote for Hillary.
Think about it, a mail in vote pretty much allows EVERYONE to be able to vote. Obama may want to claim he is bringing new politics to America but its just a lie. This is no change I can believe in.
I'm sure the Obama camp is resistent because those delegates from Florida will go to Clinton and put her in the lead.
Either way, it really does not matter. The Democratic Party is so divided that they don't have a chance come November.
McCain in 2008!!!
If they decide to do a re vote, they should treat it as they do absentee ballots, that is already used in all our elections.
Obama if he campaigns in Florida can gain the missing delegates to clinch the nomination.
Why are people so against this?
Obama is the racist one.
It took this long to get this answer? We already know that he knows his shot at Florida would put him a distant second.
It will only be worse with his resistance.
Watch what happens when he continues to upset Floridians.
They'll vote in droves for Clinton and her differential between delegates in Florida will widen.
It's a sign he has NO VISION.
A wise man concedes a battle and refocuses on the War.
obama is scared to loose
I love how they say Hillary is changing the Rules. WE NEED THESE STATES TO WIN GENERAL ELECTION. How stupid is Obama. Just because it dosen't look good for you. You cant win as it is now so adding them will help with the Delegate count. What are you scared of Obama?
Do we not have ample evidence that the Republican Party in Florida is hellbent on tampering with the process? Do the Clintonistas need a map?
A mail in vote in Florida? You may as well hand it over to Hillary just as it was handed over to George W. Bush. I can just hear it now...mail missing, thousands of voter ballots lost, millions of pregnant chads...hahhahaha. When it comes to Florida, anything might happen. lol
WHY MAKE RULES IF YOU HAVE NO INTENTION OF ENFORCING THEM?
HE DOESN'T WANT IT AT ALL BECAUSE SENATOR CLINTON WON!
IT WAS A FAIR ELECTION PROCESS AND THE DELAGETES SHOULD BE GIVEN!!!
SENATOR CLINTON WILL GET THEM !!!!!!!!
Can't wait 'til Obama is the democratic nominee, and John McCain reminds FL voters, Obama didn't want their votes counted!
I dont blame him
My suggestion is to use a 2-step process to sort out the Michigan and Florida mess. Half the delegates should be awarded based on the results from the primaries in January. For the remaining half a mail-in re-vote can be held. It minimizes the impact problems through a re-vote, and also gives the people who made the effort to go out and vote a reason to believe in the principles of democracy.
I can see how Obama is resistant to having a mail in vote. Many of his base will have difficulty understanding the process. They need their hand held throughout the process and then once Obama is elected they will need their handouts.
Obama didn;t need to say anything. Now he looks as pathetic as Clinton. He doesn;t want a mail in vote in Florida because he doesn;t want ANY type of revote as Clinton would close the gap as she would likely win Florida and Michigan. Hippacrits everywhere in D.C., who can save us.
Considering the legal problems surrounding Florida voting procedures within the last decade, it would be prudent to approach ANY new voting proceudres in either of these states with much trepidation.
When you take into account that HRC has demonstrated that she will stop at nothing to decrease the delegate vote/popular vote/state gap between her campaign and Obama's, I think that demands even further trepidation and scrutiny.
I would be too; there are too many things that could go wrong. People could steal the mail, and how would you know if anyone tampered with it! It's not a safe idea ESPECIALLY in Florida! 2000 ring a bell!