Skip is officially off November ballot

The paperwork has been processed, and Walter "Skip" Campbell, the much-talked-about challenger to incumbent state Sen. Jeff Atwater, is officially off the November ballot, according to the state Division of Elections.

Campbell announced last Thursday that he planned to give up his high-profile bid to unseat Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican who is set to be the next Senate President.

His official withdrawal starts the clock ticking for party leaders looking to get a replacement candidate on the ballot.

Party leaders have 12 days under state law to find a replacement, and a party committee is scheduled to discuss the issue at a special meeting on Monday.

Last week, Democratic leaders in Tallahassee tapped party activist and real estate agent Linda Bird as Campbell's successor.

But the choice isn't official until party leaders in Broward and Palm Beach counties approve the choice. And the issue created some internal party tension Tuesday at a closed-door Management Committee meeting of the Broward Democratic Party.

Sources inside the meeting said the Michael Albetta, president of the Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Caucus, made a motion to endorse Bird's candidacy against Atwater.

The motion was seconded by Jack Shifrel, an area party leader, but was ruled out of order by Broward Democratic Party Chairman Mitch Ceasar, who told the group it was because Bird's candidacy wasn't yet official.

Bird, who also attended the meeting, said she considered the clash a simple procedural issue.

"I'm not official," Bird said. "The procedure [to endorse] cannot take place."

UPDATE: The state Democratic Party says no official date has been set for naming a replacement for Campbell because the party is still waiting to be formally notified of his withdrawal. But local party leaders say Monday is likely going to be the day.