With Florida moving its presidential primary back to the middle of March from the end of January, as was the case in 2012, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) is considering a motion for candidates attending the RPOF’s Sunshine Summit in November to file their paperwork in person to make the primary ballot.
Wadi Gaitan, a spokesman from the RPOF, told Sunshine State News on Monday that the proposal would ensure more of the Republican presidential hopefuls would pay attention to Florida instead of just the early caucus and primary states.
“The rule being considered by the executive board is the result of the grassroots’ concern that candidates are focusing on Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina while overlooking the key primary and general election state of Florida,” Gaitan told Sunshine State News. “The approval of this rule would benefit and empower our grassroots by making Florida a must-visit primary state for the election.”
The Sunshine Summit is scheduled in the middle of November in Orlando and will focus on the presidential hopefuls. Unlike past “Presidency” events held by the RPOF, there will not be a straw poll.
The proposal to make their candidates file in person drew the fire of Bob White, the chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC).
“A troubling proposal is circulating among members of the executive committee of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) that would exclude Republican Party candidates from the Republican Presidential Preference Primary scheduled for March of 2016 if they do not attend the RPOF Sunshine Summit this year in November,” White said over the weekend. “The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida strongly opposes any litmus test placed on qualified Republican presidential candidates for ballot access. If passed, this proposal would establish a dangerous precedent where qualified candidates can be denied ballot access for any reason party leadership may deem sufficient. It is not the proper role for party insiders to unilaterally determine who may or may not appear on the Republican Presidential Preference Primary ballot. This proposed ballot access ‘rule,’ if passed, would set a dangerous precedent. It would disenfranchise voters and risk alienating thousands of party activists leading up to the general election in November.
“The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida opposes this proposed ballot access rule,” White added. “We strongly encourage RPOF board members to oppose any rule that limits voter choice in Florida and threatens to disrupt party unity leading up to the critical 2016 election cycle.”
White and his group hosted state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the RPOF, at the RLC’s annual dinner earlier this month and both sides insist the relationship between the two groups is getting better while conceding they do not agree on everything.
Several of the leading Republican presidential candidates have ties to the Sunshine State. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., rose to prominence in Florida while businessman Donald Trump has homes and investments in the state. Dr. Ben Carson moved to Florida after ending his celebrated medical career. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark. moved to the Panhandle after his 2008 presidential bid.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
