RPOF Backs Off From Primary Spat

By Reid Wilson  //  March 31, 2011 | 9:30 p.m.
Updated: April 2, 2011 | 3:25 p.m.

The Republican Party of Florida wants no part in a dispute that could cost the state influence in the GOP nominating contest, the state party chairman said late Thursday, putting the party at odds with its leaders in the state legislature.

In a statement, RPOF chairman Dave Bitner said he hoped to work with the Republican National Committee to find an appropriate date for Florida's primary just hours after the chairmen of the South Carolina and Iowa parties threatened to strip Florida of the convention because of its noncompliance.

(See background on South Carolina, Iowa and their call for a new convention location here)

"As chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, my primary concern is what is in the best interest of Florida and Florida Republicans. I commend our Legislature for standing up for Florida voters, by ensuring we have an early voice in the presidential primary process," Bitner said in the statement. "There are many reasons why Florida should have an early and significant role in selecting the Republican presidential nominee, yet I understand the Republican National Committee is looking to maintain an orderly primary calendar."

At the moment, Florida's presidential primary is scheduled to take place in late January, before February, when Iowa's caucuses and New Hampshire's primary are scheduled. South Carolina, the traditional first primary contest in the South, is also fiercely protective of its place in the Republican nominating process, while Nevada is also allowed to hold caucuses in February, according to party rules.

But, the RPOF insisted, the party doesn't intend to hop the early states.

"Governor [Rick] Scott, [state Senate] President [Mike] Haridopolos, [House] Speaker [Dean] Cannon and I have expressed a willingness to work with the RNC to find a primary date that both respects the calendar while preserving Florida's role in the process. We all agree that moving the primary into late February, making Florida fifth on the calendar, would sufficiently meet both criteria. I remain optimistic and committed to continuing to work with the Legislature and the RNC to resolve this issue." Bitner's statement is a serious backtrack from the state party's earlier stance. After South Carolina GOP chairman Karen Floyd and Iowa chairman Matt Strawn both urged RNC members to establish a commission to rethink the party's decision to hold the 2012 convention in Tampa, Cannon taunted the other states. "I look forward to meeting Chairman Floyd and Chairman Strawn in Tampa next summer," Cannon told Hotline On Call. Still, the Florida party has little control over the process. Any change in the primary date must go through Haridopolos, who is also running for U.S. Senate, and Cannon, both of whom control their respective chambers. Haridopolos echoed Bitner's statement, but he doesn't seem interested in backing down. ""I have said all along that Florida does not want to jump the traditional early states of New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina or Nevada. We simply want to go fifth," he said.

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