DNC May Deny Florida Slots at '08 Convention

"We've spent months working with the Florida Democratic Party to come up with an alternative process and comply with the national rules they voted for," Paxton said. "In the end, we hope Florida will do the right thing."

Under DNC rules, which were adopted more than a year ago, Florida's decision to vote earlier than Feb. 5 will automatically trigger a loss of half of the state's delegates. But DNC officials appear likely to increase that penalty to 100 percent of the delegates, a move that could leave the Florida section of the convention floor vacant.

The state could appeal the sanction after the convention begins, but party officials said there is no precedent for seating delegates from a state that has been banned. In a letter to Dean this week, the Democratic members of Florida's congressional delegation said they would push the issue.

"We would recommend to the chairman and leadership of the Florida Democratic Party that they send the party's entire delegation to the national convention in Denver next year anyway," the members said in the letter.

If the DNC committee allows Florida to award some delegates on Jan. 29, its rules would ban presidential candidates from actively campaigning there. Candidates who disobeyed the ban would lose delegates they might earn in the primary.

But no one appears to know for certain what that means, as the national party rules do not explicitly define "campaigning."

On its face, the rule would appear to prohibit rallies, meet-and-greet gatherings, house parties, speeches to interest groups and campaign bus tours.

The rules say that fundraising is usually considered part of campaigning and would be banned. But it is silent about events that have already been scheduled, such as a Democratic debate set for early September, officials said. And it is equally unclear whether candidates can e-mail video clips of themselves to supporters or engage in long-distance telephone interviews with Florida radio hosts.

In the end, the candidates could ignore the ban and campaign in Florida, anyway -- not for the delegates, but for the sense of momentum that would come from winning such a large, pivotal state.

The 2000 general election was decided in Florida by 537 votes. Said Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.): "Knowing how important Florida is, I bet every one of them will beat a fast retreat" to the state this year.