Could FL actually be in play this November?

[MoonRiver]

That seems unlikely considering its governmental composition, but I'm starting to wonder. The state is going to be under a microscope like no other state at no other time in our history. Kerry and human rights groups will be having huge masses of election monitors and lawyers on hand to intervene in any voter fraud. I think I read that preemptive law suits are already being filed by Kerry. And I now have read in the following article that the courts have ordered FL to restore felons rights as soon as possible. Jeb's evil empire is powerful, but there may be more fearsome forces determined to protect our democracy.

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/9156523.htm

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Naah... It looks like Kerry wins in a blowout

based on what I am seeing in the polls, and Diebold permitting.

[PVnRT]

2. Yes

And if blacks are turned away again like in 2004, there will be riots, bank on it.

[ToneE]

19. So what are you saying?

Ar African-Americans are incapable of non-violent protest in your view?

[RobertSeattle]

3. No way

Exactly who are these people who voted for Gore and will now vote for Bush? Who?

Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of "accidental" Buchanan voters who will be voting for Kerry....

[DebJ]

4. I had the misfortune of working for a thief once...he would

approach this situation as a really fun challenge. Think Bushco would think any differently?
So far I sum up their approach as either:
Hell, it's just the Constitution
or
We don't need no constitution. Ignore it.

[deminflorida]

5. The Florida Panhandle Area is putting forth an effort like I never

saw during the Gore/Lieberman Campaign of 2000. Here are some examples:

"Blue Angels Show, July 10th: PFK will be out en masse on this busy weekend with visibility rallies at several of the major intersections leading to and from Pensacola Beach. To make this a success, we need volunteers! Please help us seize this opportunity to reach the thousands from all over the region who attend the Blue Angels show.

Also, PFK will sponsor a John Kerry awareness rally and voter registration drive this Saturday at East Hill Hardware, located on the corner of 12th Ave. and Cross St. from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. "John Kerry for President" campaign materials and Florida voter registration forms will be available.

Participants are encouraged to meet beforehand at 9 a.m. for a pre-rally breakfast at Madison's Diner, located at 1010 N. 12th Ave. For more information, please see contact information below.

And finally, PFK is proud to announce that we are among the first in the state to have Kerry/Edwards T-shirts! Be sure to stop by our tent at East Hill Hardware on Saturday and get your Kerry/Edwards T-shirts while supplies last!

Please come out and join us this weekend! Together, we can make a difference!"

&&&&&

"Please join us Saturday, July 17, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. on the steps of the Escambia County Courthouse for a photo session and card-signing rally to show support for Senator John Kerry and Senator John Edwards. Our group of supporter is approaching record-breaking numbers. There are approximately 1,000 individuals signed up to help take back the White House for the American People!

You can show your support by posing for a group photo and sending your written message of support to the national office.

All supporters who wear their ?Kerry? or ?Kerry-Edwards? T-shirt will be able to participate in this historic group photo session event."

&&&&&

Check out

http://www.panhandleforkery.com

http://www.santarosaforkerry.com

http://www.panhandleforkerry.com/pc_bay.htm

The people over in Pensacola are really busting their cans....


The Panhandle is the Republican Stronghold in Florida and some very serious efforts are being made to cut into that Republican electorate.

I recently asked via email that the www.santarosaforkerry.com website be linked under the unofficial sites listings at www.JohnKerry.com with no results after three emails.

As soon as the Kerry people start taking our efforts down here as serious as us, I'll change my Avatar to "Kerry/Edwards".

But you know what....we're fighting anyway and that's all that counts.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Awesome! You guys rock! nt

[lanparty]

11. They need to get Edwards in there ....

Bob Graham and John Edwards need to take a tour of the panhandle and raise the troops. Edwards can charm these folks. He's another Clinton.

[Lefty48197]

7. Hell, Bush is pushing the Cuban vote into OUR column

Toss in an entire planet watching for any more "funny business", and I think we have the makings of a victory.

[SW FL Dem]

8. we're doing our best

It's looking possible. I'm seeing Kerry bumper stickers, Kerry buttons and our local Dem committee is seeing record numbers of volunteers and donors.

[foo_bar]

9. I'm more worried about California

If I were a thief I wouldn't bag the same joint twice.

[MoonRiver]

13. CA hates *. What's to worry about?

:shrug:

[foo_bar]

15. "he who counts the vote"

[MoonRiver]

16. How much of CA will be using paperless voting machines?

I know that Bev and Andy have made significant progress in getting rid of those machines, but I can't recall the latest news about this.

[lanparty]

10. Florida is DEFINITELY in play ...

Kerry is leading in polls. Plus, Baby Bush has been forced to back away from the felon purge lists. Florida will be saturated by poll watchers in 2004 and they know it. Their ability to throw away Democratic ballots will be severely curtailed. Their ONLY method for vote theft will be the electronic machines. ALL of those districts will be extensively exit polled.

The thing we have to remember is that Gore WON Florida in 2004. Everyone who voted for Gore will vote for Kerry. They are registering new voters every day AND ... disaffected Bush voters will be switching to either Kerry or Nader.

Bush is on the defense this election. He is clearly losing voters. As things get worse in Iraq and the REAL liberal media surges, Bush will continue losing support.

As far as the south goes, Edwards really has barely got started campaigning. I dare say that Edwards can deliver the Carolinas, West Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia.

Kerry's states by contrast are 100% secure. Kerry doesn't need to play defense in their strongholds of California, New York, Illinois, etc... The Blue states will stay Blue. The purple states are GOING blue. The only red for life state is Mississippi.

[MoonRiver]

12. This is all very heartening.

I had written off FL, but I'm getting a very strong feeling that we're going to take it, bbvs and all!

:kick:

[Lefty Pragmatist]

14. I finally get to be optimistic!

After raining on everybody's parade about NC and VA, I gotta say that FL is absolutely in play. It was a dead heat last time, Bush has pissed off the Cubans, we are doing a good job limiting the GOP's ability to take Dems off the voter rolls, Nader is diminished, and FL blacks are probably the most motivated voters on the planet after they were screwed last time.

All those things together say we should swing the state into our column.

[quaker bill]

17. Bush may have his brother, but he has a major disadvantage

The people who did not get their votes counted last time are nearly as angry about it today as they were in 2000. Turnout in certain democratic leaning areas and precincts will be huge.

A lot of people who don't routinely vote are also damn angry and want to be sure that Florida counts this time.

I sense a distinct difference in level of motivation between Democrats (energetic) and repugs (more ambivalent). I live in a heavily republican neighborhood. But I am seeing far more Kerry bumperstickers than I would normally expect. Democrats running for congress are also doing far better than normally expected in "safe" republican districts.

I am thinking that as time passes it will become increasingly clear that Fla is not really not so much of a "swing state" this time out. I would predict Kerry by 4 or 5 percent and a gain of at least a couple of seats in congress.

[retread]

18. Right now little brother is kind of busy trying to shovel dirt

over that pile of stink he grunted on Tallahassee.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/17/Columns/At_DCF__push_for_priv.shtml

[WI_DEM]

20. Florida has been in play since 1992

in '92 Clinton lost it narrowly
in '96 Clinton won it narrowly.
in '00 it is fair to say Gore won it had there been a full recount.
in '04 Kerry has been narrowly leading in Florida