Graham: Fla. primary battle left "scars"

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By Donald Lambro

Former Florida senator Bob Graham said Tuesday the bitter intraparty rules battle over his states early primary has left some scar tissue behind for Democrats to deal with but predicts Democrats will be unified heading into the general election.

Mr. Graham, one of the states superdelegates, said a majority of his delegation to the convention will probably vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton when the nominating roll call is held, since she won the primary.

The former two-term governor told The Washington Times that the fight over the states decision to move its primary up to January -- in violation of party rules prohibiting any new primary before Feb. 5 -- was being put in the past and Florida Democrats were focused on electing Barack Obama for president in November.

The rules squabble ended up with state Democratic officials threatening legal action against the Democratic National Committee earlier this year, after the DNC stripped the state party of its delegates. Under the partys ban neither candidate campaigned in the primary. But Graham said the full state delegation is being seated at the convention after Illinois Sen. Barack Obama urged that the party dispute be ended and the DNCs sanctions dropped.

Not only is the pivotal battleground states delegation being seated, but at Mr. Obamas urging, they are being seated up front in the convention hall -- a sign of the states influence and importance in the 2008 election.

Its no accident that the Florida delegation is right next to [Mr. Obamas] Illinois delegation, Sen. Bill Nelson told the states delegation Tuesday.

Both men were interviewed Tuesday on the Times webcast show, Two Guys in a Newsroom.