Obama Florida delegate switch of about 7 delegates successful today.

[madfloridian]

Not all were happy, but since most are in unity mode now they went along pretty well. You need to scroll down in the blog to see this part, but take a gander at the review of the new book coming out about Katherine Harris just for interest.

A final skirmish the state delegate front

Just when you thought all the drama was over. On the eve of Florida Democrats' big party-unity fundraiser, the delegate debacle reared its ugly head one last time.

Sen. Barack Obama wanted to reward his Florida loyalists and send a few to the convention, which meant others would lose their spots. This spurred a string of tart and publicly released e-mails between DNC wag Jon Ausman and Obama's top Florida moneyman, Kirk Wagar. Wagar was caught smacking Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democratic chief Leonard Joseph and other establishment types, and slapping Ausman around with an f-bomb.

The delegate switcheroo was approved Saturday morning without too much whining, according to those at the meeting. Seven lost their spots, including Marilyn Cappiello of Tampa. But other locals including Rep. Betty Reed and Frank Sanchez, both of Tampa, are now Denver-bound

I can't find all the names who became delegates for Obama, but Bob Graham was one of them.

Obama replaces six Florida delegates

Okay, so one site says seven, one says six. Guess we will find out more later.

HOLLYWOOD - Former Sen. Bob Graham, a state legislator and a Broward County Commissioner gained seats in Florida's delegation to the Democratic National Convention Saturday as Sen. Barack Obama scored an early tactical victory among the state's combative party activists.

At a meeting of the Florida delegation, a voice vote on accepting Obama's changes was too close to call. Minor and other party leaders pleaded for unity and another vote was taken, this time with members standing or sitting to show their positions.

The "ayes" clearly had it, by a glance around the room, so the vote was not tallied.

Obama exercised his right to review his slate of 67 delegates - focusing on the 26 at-large seats and party leaders or elected officials supporting him. Since Obama clinched the nomination early this month, the party has been trying to sooth lingering dissension in the ranks of its most active partisans.

Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Jan. 29 primary with 870,986 votes to Obama's 576,214. Ex-Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was third with 251,562 votes.

I hear that Obama addressed them by satellite, and told them he would be back in the state next week. Key Clinton back Ed Rendell was the keynote speaker and urged unity.

[madfloridian]

1. I wonder if the state legislator added was Dan Gelber...

He quickly came on board with Obama, and butted out of the ugly primary fight...even sort of apologizing to Dean.

[cal04]

2. Florida Democrats seek Obama unity at fundraiser

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sfl-flbdems0615sbjun15,0,354277.story?track=rss
(snip)
And at the big fundraising dinner, one of Clinton's strongest supporters from the primary season, Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, urged Florida Democrats to get behind their party's presumptive nominee.

There has been time since Obama won "to be angry, to be ticked off, to be disappointed, to pout, to be depressed," Rendell said.

"I don't want to hear any Clinton supporter or any Clinton voter say John McCain's not so bad," he said. "How can anyone think of supporting John McCain over Barack Obama? The stakes are too high."

(snip)
In a videotaped message, Obama told Democrats not to take his absence as a sign that he wouldn't vigorously campaign in Florida. Obama, who is scheduled to be in the state at the end of the week, said he'd be back often.

"We can win Florida in November," he said.