Reply #22: Get off your high horse. If the state party hadn't endorsed this move they'd have delegates.

[Kagemusha]

It's because the state party endorsed the legislature's action loud and proud that they cannot benefit from relief from the national rules. The rules were not written by idiots. A clause was added for parties held hostage by legislative majorities by the other party to apply for and obtain relief from such punishments. That doesn't require "the votes" - that requires actually seeking relief.

What the state party did instead was to wholly back what the Republicans did - for which, albeit with lesser parties, apparently the RNC is going to punish Florida Republicans for, too! - and demand that the DNC, all of it not just Dean, bend to their will and accept what they had done.

In other words...

"What will Dean do if Florida Democrats want to push the primary date back, but the GOP-controlled Florida legislature refuses, as I expect them to do?"

They'll get their delegates back, that's what.

This situation arose because the Florida Democrats did NOT want to push the primary date back, but rather, dictated that the national party go along with it.