Determined to avoid the trials of the 2000 race, party leaders advise activists to find ways to prevent problems.
By Associated Press
Published June 14, 2004
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. - Recalling the contentious 2000 election, Democrats urged party activists on Sunday to find legal observers, push early voting methods and remain vigilant of any problems during the upcoming November election.
Party leaders and activists discussed ways to prevent a repeat of the 2000 election in Florida, in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by 537 votes after a 36-day recount was halted by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Any way we cut it, these people are going to try to steal this election," said U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar. "The only thing we can overpower them with is accuracy and numbers."
Party officials suggested voting absentee as one way to avoid relying upon touchscreen voting machines in certain counties. The machines have been criticized by some Democrats for failing to have paper printouts of individual votes.
Hastings said local activists should try to find attorneys or law students willing to work on the issue for free and not rely on John Kerry's presidential campaign or the eventual Senate nominee "to do what we can do for ourselves."
But Kerry's campaign said they were actively engaged in voter protection. Steve Zack, Kerry's campaign general counsel in Florida, said the campaign had "the best lawyers in America" working to stop more polling place problems.
"We understand that now is the time to plan for any and everything that could possibly happen. And I can assure you that the Kerry campaign is ready for anything that could possibly or would happen," said Zack, an attorney who worked on the Gore recount team in 2000.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said party activists faced "an extra special burden and responsibility" because Florida is among the top battleground states in the nation. Polls show a tight race between Kerry and President Bush in the state.
The session showed evidence that many state Democrats remain bitter about the recount. One participant asked the activists in the hotel ballroom to look toward a television camera and yell: "George Bush - we will not let it happen again."
But Bush campaign officials in Florida said they don't want another 2000 election either, noting months of work to build an extensive grass-roots network in Florida to help re-elect the president.
"We're doing it to make sure that it's not as close as it was last time," said Bush campaign spokesman Reed Dickens. "So their wish is going to come true."
Democrats wrapped up their weekend Jefferson-Jackson gala, which featured North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
The potential Kerry running mate visited a church north of Miami on Sunday, offering a message of racial equality.
