As Dems dither, Bush raises $$$

As Florida Democrats try to figure out how to give the state's voters a role in picking the Democratic presidential nominee, President Bush is in Florida, raising money for Republicans and tweaking the Democrats over trade.

Bush's first stop: a luncheon fundraiser in Jacksonville for the Republican National Committee. It'll be followed by a tour of the Blount Island Marine Terminal in Jax where he'll talk U.S. trade policy.

He'll wrap up his Florida visit with an Republican National Committee fundraiser in Palm Beach. The RNC says he's expected to raise $1.45 million during the trip.

Bush is threatening to force a congressional vote on a Colombia free trade agreement, potentially provoking a contentious debate smack in the middle of the presidential race.

Meanwhile, Florida Democrats, who abandoned plans for a vote-by-mail do-over, are trying to figure out a way to be counted. Miami Beach Rep. Dan Gelber suggests one solution in his blog: locking Barack Obama backer Rep. Robert Wexler and Hillary Clinton supporter Rep. Alcee Hastings - and potential mediator former Sen. Bob Graham - in a room "until they hammer out an agreement."

Bloomberg News executive editor Albert Hunt is suggesting a similar intervention. He says the party "needs a senior figure - George Mitchell, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter - to avoid a political train wreck."

"A deal shouldn't be that difficult," he writes. "It could include some combination of caucuses and primaries, fewer delegates than slated but a higher percentage than Republicans are awarding in those two states, and the two campaigns could share the cost with the state parties and private donors.

"Any new makeup election would have to be no later than June. The clock is ticking. If the Democratic Party leadership continues to dawdle, put Michigan and Florida in the John McCain column for the November election."

Comments

[Democratic voter]

Lock Wexler and Hastings together?....Yeah Laurel and Hardy would be a better plan.