Democrats plot strategy to rebuild battered party (Miami Herald)

[sherilocks]

Posted on Sat, Dec. 25, 2004


FLORIDA POLITICS



Florida Democrats met this week to devise a strategy to return to relevance, as several of their leading figures consider gubernatorial runs. One has a familiar name: Lawton Chiles III.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND MARY ELLEN KLAS

[e-mail]

Exiled from all but one statewide office in Florida and facing the deepest legislative deficit in decades, elected Democrats huddled privately this week to plot strategy for regaining clout in 2006.

The closed-door meeting, held at U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd's North Florida farm, was billed as the first of what is likely to be a series of brainstorming sessions as the one-time majority party tries to reclaim some relevance, participants said.

Called by Boyd and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the only remaining statewide elected Democrat, the meeting brought together office holders and several prospects for races in 2006 -- all of whom met amid what one participant called an unprecedented level of intensity, prompted by a dismal showing in the November election.

''Every one of us is trying to assess what we do in the future, how we can build the party and reach out to people and really work together more closely,'' said Betty Castor, the former education commissioner whose narrow loss to Republican Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate race gave Democrats a sliver of hope. ``This election made us realize we need to start a dialogue to better build the party.''

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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/10494921.htm?1c

Taken from the Florida Forum and thanks to Ryban for posting