A Florida Solution?

Florida House Democratic Leader proposes a solution that will seat the Florida delegation:

So let me suggest a way that not only gets us out of the jam but might even turn out to be better than we could ever hope for. Host a run-off election by mail and include Independent voters. The DNC has already indicated it would approve a compliant election, and a statewide vote by mail should qualify. It is less expensive than caucuses and more inclusive, and I think we could raise the money needed in short order, perhaps with some help from the DNC. Further, why not include registered Independent voters in the election. I promise you, Republicans will quickly stop laughing when they watch Florida Democrats not simply unite but also reach out to the crucial block of voters (Independents) that will be determining who wins Florida in November. Also, a vote by mail would be an invaluable organizing tool for the general election so the money we spent would have added utility.

Its reasonable, doable and fair. I say why the hell not!

(h/t The Field)

UPDATE (Via Al Giordano over at the Field):

Update: One Democratic Party official from Miami-Dade, Cindy Lerner, fired a letter off to Gelber (and the media) opposing his plan.

Lerner, this year, donated $2,000 to Clinton’s presidential campaign and another $1,250 to Emily’s List, one of the groups making independent expenditures to support Clinton.

Interestingly, Lerner seems resigned to a possible deal in which Florida could get only half of its 205 delegates seated at the convention:

“It is up to the DNC Rules committee and Howard Dean to return 1/2 of our delegates to us immediately, at a minimum.”

If done proportionately, that would shave Clinton’s Flordia freebies from a 38 delegate advantage to 19. Although the DNC rules commission would also have the option of making the state split its delegates evenly between Clinton and Obama (in other words, symbolic seating for some, but no scales-tipping to result from it).