DNC votes to strip Fla. of '08 delegates

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The Democratic National Committee Saturday voted to strip Florida of its delegates to the 2008 presidential nominating convention.

The ruling came in reaction to the Florida Democratic Party’s decision to schedule a presidential primary for Jan. 29, in violation of national party policy barring state primaries before Feb. 5, The Washington Post reported.

State lawmakers told Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean a threat to invalidate Florida's Democratic presidential primary would disenfranchise voters.

Florida's decision to move its primary up to Jan. 29 has sparked moves by other states, threatening the tradition of presidential campaigning beginning in Iowa and New Hampshire. Those two states have recently vowed to vote even earlier, possibly in December, to stay at the front of the process.

The sanction would deny Florida its delegates at the party's national convention next year and prohibit Democratic presidential candidates from campaigning in the state before the primary.

The penalty will not take effect for 30 days. National party officials said the Florida party could regain its delegates by changing its primary schedule.