The new site MobLogic.comhosted by Lindsay Campbell, put together a great rundown on the Florida Democratic primary mess and pointed out something I and others should be doing a better job of explaining. It wasn’t the Democratic state Party wanting to move the primary up in violation of rules, it was the states Republican party. Democrats fought the decision but because of maneuvering lost out. Again the video above does a wonderful job of explaining so I wont rehash it.

Regardless I still maintain the DNC is ultimately to blame and here is why. They created a system that prizes Iowa and New Hampshire above all others and because of this system they were forced into penalizing Florida and Michigan. Regardless of who was to blame for breaking the Democratic rules, states are the ones who make these decisions and because of that any state could have been taken in the same direction Florida was. Because of this, it makes little sense to bind everyone to this, Iowa and New Hampshire media monopoly, for the pure and simple fact that the party continues to want to favor this system instead of courting gigantic swing states like Florida and Michigan which could help them out in November.

In addition, no one forced Obama, Edwards and the others to keep their names off the Michigan primary, they did it to again appease Iowa voters and score some political points. So though the Democrats are not to blame for the state decision, because of maneuvering by Republicans in Florida, this is true, they are to blame for creating this system and standing by it knowing full well it could create the mess we are currently in.

Still a wonderful rundown from a new site so check it out.

photo credit: dtcchc

Today Democrats face off in Wyoming starting at 11 am with the last caucus getting underway at 6 pm ET, 12 delegates at stake and lots of media talk of “momentum” and possibly “momentum change” or “momentum collecting” underway afterward.

photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Good morning fellow Geeks, grab some coffee and check out what is happening in election land.

Last night’s democratic debate was tense, had a few fireworks and for the first time brought up some tuff personal issues for Senator Obama. It was debate #20, the final scheduled debate and possibly the last Democratic debate of Election 2008. The candidates discussed Health Care, NAFTA, Iraq and more.

I personally thought Obama scored well on Iraq, though it was funny I cringed for Clinton who brought up an SNL skit to say Obama was being treated better, I cringed for Obama when Russert tossed out a question on Iraq leaving it to the candidates to decide who would answer and the Illinois Senator deferred to Clinton (it could have been a moment for him to show some foreign policy chops), I thought the opening to the debate showing Clinton saying Obama was right and Obama saying Hillary was right for declaring this a “change election” was a little over the top against the NY Senator.

Here is some of the wrap-up:

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So undoubtedly you have heard the new media hurricane of speculation surrounding the role of super delegates and their nefarious potential to overtake the popular will of the people and potentially select a candidate who isn’t Barack Obama to the nomination. Today the New York Times even has a piece on how Al Gore and other “superdelegates” are struggling with their role in the process and rapidly attempting to find a place of harmony for the party.

To all of this I say, bah humbug, and I urge everyone else to do the same.

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NBC: Obama 1,078, Clinton 969
CBS: Obama 1,242, Clinton 1,175
ABC: Obama 1,232, Clinton 1,205
CNN: Obama 1,215, Clinton 1,190
AP: Obama 1,223, Clinton 1,198

Assembled by Political Wire.

Democrats hold caucuses in Maine today. Election Geek will bring you the results as they come in.

Reuters is reporting that both parties are having a difficult time with turnout in Louisiana:

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana (Reuters) - The primary elections have been called the most gripping in recent years but not in the Deep South state of Louisiana where parties struggled to motivate voters on Saturday.

In Alexandria, a city in the center of the state, voting officials stood idle at several polling stations in black or racially mixed neighborhoods waiting for people to show up.

Hundreds of people crowded a local gymnasium for a basketball game while the voting station in the lobby had seen only 35 voters by mid-morning.

Republicans lost much of their interest after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pulled out of the race on Thursday, leaving Sen. John McCain virtually certain to be the party nominee, analysts and voters said.

Democratic turnout in Louisiana has been shrinking for years and the trend seemed likely to continue despite the national interest in the race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, analysts said.

Washington Post is reporting the low turnout is worrying the Obama campaign.

Reports of low turnout in Louisiana caused a wave of concern in the Obama campaign on an otherwise smooth primary and caucus day in four states on Saturday. Although Sen. Barack Obama is expected to fare well in Louisiana, where about 45 percent of registered Democrats are African American, low turnout could drive down his numbers. The state has 66 delegates for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton skipped Louisiana, even though it has become a symbolic touchstone for Democrats following the government response to Hurricane Katrina. Instead she sent her husband to campaign for her there while chasing better bets in Maine, which holds its caucus on Sunday, and Virginia.

Exit polls showing

Did Katrina Cause Hardship?

Louisiana Republican voters Yes 32%, No 68%

Louisiana Democratic Voters Yes 44%, No 55% No
Yes - White Voters 40%, Black Voters 46%

Economy (Nationally)

Republicans
Excellent/Good 51%
Not Good/Pour 49%

Democrats
Excellent/Good 10%
Not Good/Poor 90%

From the Seattle Times:

aving trouble finding your caucus?

People are apparently scrambling this morning to find where to go to attend their precinct caucus, which begin at 1 p.m.

The state Democratic party’s online “caucus finder” tool was overwhelmed and flashed this message: “Due to extreme traffic volume, our caucus lookup tool may operate slowly, please try back at a later time if you are having difficulty.”

The Web site also provided a “caucus hotline” phone number. But callers this morning got either a “mailbox full” message or a message saying to leave your name and address information so they could help the right precinct.

“We are able to return most phone calls within 24 hours,” the message said.

State Democratic Party Executive Director Jaxon Ravens said the party’s Web site — http://wa-demchairs.org/2008/caucuslocations.php — was getting about three hits per second.

Kansas caucuses (GOP only, 36 delegates)

Washington caucuses (78 Democrat delegates, 18 GOP delegates)

Virgin Islands caucuses (Dems only; 3 delegates)

Nebraska caucuses (Dems only; 24 delegates)

Louisiana primaries (56 Democratic delegates, 20 GOP delegates)

Live results tonight here on Election Geek!

From Mark Pazniokas:

Lieberman’s endorsement of Republican John McCain disqualifies him as a super-delegate to the Democratic National Convention under what is informally known as the Zell Miller rule, according to Democratic State Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo.

Miller, then a Democratic senator from Georgia, not only endorsed Republican George Bush four years ago, but he delivered a vitriolic attack on Democrat John Kerry at the Republican National Convention.

The Democrats responded with a rule disqualifying any Democrat who crosses the aisle from being a super delegate. Lieberman will not be replaced, DiNardo said.