There is some really great news for the Obama campaign in today's Washington Post / ABC News Poll. Yes, even despite the not so very thrilling headline in the WaPo - "Poll Finds Independent Voters Split Between McCain, Obama", the numbers inside the poll itself tell a much different story.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

It's the middle of March here in Florida. That means three things are going on: Spring Break, Spring Training Baseball and the Florida Legislature is in session. Spring Training Baseball has a long and honored tradition here. Spring Break, with all its warts, also has been responsible for a lifetime of fond feelings for Florida from people all over the country. Regular sessions of the Florida Legislature, on the other hand, usually make us glad they only meet for 60 days a year. As the old saw goes, when the legislature is in session, make sure you've got your hand on your wallet.

So what battle is going on this year in the Florida Legislature that has almost all the elements necessary to make a good sequel to Sunshine State?  Follow me below the fold...

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that the Florida Democratic Party:

proposed a new vote-by-mail primary overseen by an independent commission.

I can't find a  lot about the actual plan yet (nothing on the FDP's web site), but here's what I do know...

Update: Here is the proposal by the Florida Democratic Party.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

There is a diary by nailbender up on DailyKos right now purporting to

dispel a talking point ... that the FL Democratic Party was bound by the decision of the GOP-controlled FL legislature and Governor to a January 29th date for the selection of Democratic Delegates.

This diary is being hailed as a

Great Diary with facts and info

Well, it's not a great diary.  It does have some facts and info.  But it does not have all the facts and it does not have all the info.

So, let's nip this in the bud....

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Yesterday, I reported on State Senator Ted Deutch's letter to the four early state Democratic Party Chairs asking them to release our candidates from the Pledge not to campaign in Florida once the South Carolina Primary is over on Saturday.

Also, there was the appearance of Obama campaign ads in Florida and that kicked up quite the fuss.

Today, it is getting even more interesting...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

cn1044 has a diary up on DailyKos titled Florida might be getting interesting detailing how Senator Barack Obama has purchased national cable ads that are now running in Florida.  Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign calls this

a clear and blatant violation of the early state pledge that Sen. Obama and the other leading Democratic candidates signed last year.

Meanwhile, Florida State Senator Ted Deutch has written a letter to the four early state Democratic Party Chairs asking them to release the leading Democratic candidates from their pledge not to campaign in Florida.

Could Florida become more relevant all of a sudden?  And what can all this mean?

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Early voting for the Florida Presidential Primary started yesterday.  I am going to do what has become my tradition.  I am going to vote today, on the second day of early voting. I know my friend Alonewolf would want me to change this tradition and vote by mail, and he is more than probably right.  But there is just something for me about going to a polling place to cast my ballot.

And of course, here in Florida there has been all this talk back and forth about whether or not my vote will even count.  Well, it counts enough for me to get myself to the Supervisor of Elections office in downtown St. Petersburg to cast my ballot for...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

We've been seeing a lot of crap about bipartisanship lately. There's going to be a meeting next week

challenging the major-party contenders to spell out their plans for forming a "government of national unity" to end the gridlock in Washington.

Well, I have an answer to partisan gridlock, and it ain't a "government of national unity".

Follow me below the fold for the surprisingly simple answer...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Since I did my look back at 2007 at Thanksgiving, as we enter this long New Year's weekend, I am looking forward to 2008. Man, am I ever!

First off, 2008 brings us the campaign to replace George W. Bush in the White House.  It can't come a moment too soon for me.  And it really does get out the gate right away with the Iowa Caucuses on January 3rd. Florida finally gets to weigh in when it still matters on January 29th.  With all the controversy over going early, we are in a unique position to set the table for Super Duper Tuesday, one week later on February 5th.  We could very well know who the nominees for both sides are going to be by the time the smoke clears that night.  Or maybe not. Follow me below the fold...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Last Friday, masslib posted this diary titled "Hillary Favored by Small Business Leaders". masslib had picked up this story about MarketTools Inc.'s Zoomerang online survey of small business leaders. And the diary was quite right that Hillary Clinton was favored for President by 22% of the survey respondents with Rudy Giuliani coming in second at 17%.  That diary drew quite a number of comments - 90 as of this writing.

However, I found the press releaseon the Inc.-Zoomerang Entrepreneurial Report.  And to my mind, there is much bigger news in this report than the fact that Hillary is first choice of 22% of the survey respondents.

How can that be, you say? Follow me below the jump...

OK, it's Thanksgiving and football games haven't started yet, so I've got a couple minutes on my hands. Let me pose this question: How do we run presidential primary campaigns here in Florida without the candidates?

Florida's presidential preference primary will be held on January 29th.  That's just 67 days away.  And it will be one week before Super Duper Tuesday on February 5th when so many other states are going to vote.  So Florida's voice will have influence this cycle.

The question becomes, how do we begin to make this a fair contest in Florida if the candidates can't campaign here?

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

This week marked the date that put us one year out from the November 2008 elections. Much has been writtenon this subject already. As I have looked at some of these pieces and reflected on the election that just passed this week in my hometown of St. Petersburg, I have been thinking about what this next 12 months will bring us.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

Wow!

What a week it has been in the Florida Blogosphere! Well, if you want to start a week on Friday and end it on Thursday, that is.

This week in the Florida Blogoshpere started off in Orlando and ended up in the Wall Street Journal!

Follow me for a recap of the week that was...WOW!

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

On Sunday, October 28, 2007, the Florida Democratic Party Central Committee approved the recommendation of the Committee on Clubs, Caucuses and Organizations to grant approval to the charter application of the Florida Democratic Party Netroots Coalition.

We are now an officially recognized organization

within the Florida Democratic Party!!!!!

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post here on DKos. But what a month it has been in local politics in the City of St. Petersburg. The last postwas a rundown on our City Council elections, which will be on November 6th. Follow me below the jump, and I'll bring you up to date on what has been happening in our little corner of the world.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

I have not been on these pages hardly at all lately. There are two main reasons for that. The first is because I have been working at the basic building block level of elected politics - City Council elections. The second is, well, er, it is football season and the Florida Gators are 4 and 0.

But this diary is about the hard work of building a bench down on the hustings. If you want to know what life is like at the bottom of the political totem pole, about failures and successes and lessons learned, follow me below the fold...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

For a long time now, I have been saying that the stars are aligned for the Democrats to win the White House in 2008. All we have to do is to avoid shooting ourselves in the foot. Right about now, I feel like I am picking some of Dick Cheney's buck shot out of my toes.

This stupid fight about the primary date in Florida and the DNC yanking Florida's delegates and now our idiotic candidates pledging to not campaign (but to continue to raise money) in Florida is making me absolutely crazy.

What to do about it?  Follow me...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

The recent decision by the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee to possibly strip Florida of all its delegates to the Democratic National Convention has certainly created a stir. The newspapers and the blogs are just a Buzzwith all sorts of sky is falling articles.

I propose we just all back away from the keyboard and take a deep breath. There, doesn't that feel better? Now let's talk about what's really important in this whole primary mess.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue