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Priebus: Florida delegates could be split

Posted Dec 30, 2011 by William March

Updated Dec 30, 2011 at 06:28 PM

In a letter to state Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry, national GOP Chairman Reince Priebus has acknowledged that the delegates to be awarded in Florida’s Jan. 31 primary may be divided up proportionally among the top finishers rather than awarded en masse to the winner, thereby diluting the effect of the primary.

If that happened, the Florida primary winner could be awarded 15-20 delegates instead of 50, cutting the value of the win.

It’s been expected that could happen because of Florida’s early primary date, Jan. 31, which violates party rules. But the national party has previously indicated it wouldn’t force Florida to use proportional rather than winner-take-all allocation of its delegates.

Priebus also raised the possibility that the Florida delegation to the 2012 convention, to be held in Tampa, could get less-than-choice locations for its hotel accommodations and convention floor seating, and reduced guest passes and VIP privileges.

“It has come to my attention that one or more Florida voters may file a contest seeking proportional allocation of Florida’s delegation based on the primary taking place prior to April 1,” Priebus said in the letter. “Furthermore, it is entirely possible that the Standing Committee on Rules will impose discretionary sanctions related to your state’s seating, guest passes and VIP privileges, and hotel location at the convention.”

Many members of the Republican National Committee are angry that Florida, in a bid to have a bigger impact on the nomination, moved its primary date up to Jan. 31, in violation of party rules intended to delay the start of the primary season.

Under RNC rules, Florida Republicans have planned on losing half their convention delegates, getting 50 instead of the normal 99—the specified penalty for holding a primary prior to March 6.

Those rules also say any primary before April 1 must use proportional delegate allocation. Nonetheless, the state party proposed a winner-take-all delegate allocation plan, and the RNC hasn’t chosen to push the issue.

However, one Florda GOP activist, who backs Ron Paul in the primary, has filed a protest with the party over the delegate allocation, and other protests may come from RNC members in other states. Proportional allocation would allow the second- or third-place finishers in the primary to win a few delegates.

Republican Party of Florida spokesman Brian Hughes didn’t provide any comment by the state party on the letter. Read it here.