RPOF Will Seat More Delegates for Presidency 5 Summit, Straw Poll

The Republican Party of Florida is reopening delegate selection to boost numbers at its upcoming Presidency 5 summit.

An e-mail from a regional party worker indicated that P5 "is still slightly under the goal for delegates."

RPOF field coordinator Rob Richmond stated in the e-mail, obtained by the Phoenix News Network and reviewed by Sunshine State News, that all alternate delegates will be immediately elevated to full delegate status.

"In order to reach the events delegate goal, all remaining delegate spots are open to donors, activists and volunteers, Richmond stated.

The memo indicated that the new delegates will be considered "chairman's delegates"and can come from any county.Delegate credentials cost $175.

RPOF planned for 3,500 delegates to attend P5 Sept. 22-24 in Orlando, and vote in a presidential straw poll. So far, about 3,000 delegates have been approved -- still the state's largest straw poll turnout.

Party spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed that the party's Rules Committee decided to add delegates to get closer to the 3,500 total initially projected by the RPOF.

Hughes assured that the new delegates "will be evenly distributed among grass-roots, tea party members, donors and activists across the state from all sectors of the party.

"No particular candidate will benefit from this," he said.

Though Florida is a crucial swing state in the 2012 elections, not all presidential candidates have committed to participate in the straw poll. Mitt Romney has said he will skip all straw votes, although he is expected to attend the summit, which will include a Fox News debate on the opening night.

A scheduled straw poll was canceled at P4 four years ago as then-GOP Gov. Charlie Crist jockeyed for John McCain against Romney, who at that time was pushing for a vote.

Nevertheless, with all the conservative star power and hoopla expected in Orlando during the P5 event -- even though not all of them are involved in the poll -- the RPOF should handily reach its 3,500-delegate estimate.