DENVER -- Terri Brady warned Florida Democrats things could change.She was right.What on Tuesday looked to be a paper ballot system for Florida's delegates the Democratic National Convention to vote for the party's nominee by Wednesday had morphed into a voice vote, with each delegate proceeding to a table to announce his or her vote and have that vote recorded on a master list.The process had delegates lined up around the banquet room of the Red Lion hotel and promised to eat up most of the morning.The vote, a formality on one level since Barack Obama will be the nominee, is important to many of the delegates who want the chance to vote for Hillary Clinton.The final tally could be seen as a barometer of support for Obama among a Florida delegation that was made up of a majority of Clinton supporters, based on the outcome of the state's January primary.But delegates casting votes for Clinton Wednesday morning warned that reading too much into a split decision would be a mistake.Delegate Barbara Schwartz of Miami cast her ballot for Clinton but said she'll vote for Obama in the fall. "That's what we do. We come together," she said.Cindy Lerner, who traveled to New Hampshire to support Clinton in that state's early primary, said her support for Obama will go beyond voting, in spite of the fact she cast a ballot for Clinton Wednesday."It felt really good to vote for her," Lerner said. "I think it's important it go down in history, her coming as close as she did to winning the nomination."She said she'll knock on doors, work phone banks or do whatever else is required to get Obama elected. "That's my role in the party. It's my conviction about the importance of political engagement."Eddie Lewis, a candidate for Dade County Property Appraiser, voted for Obama Wednesday in spite of his earlier support for Clinton. Clinton's speech Tuesday expressing her support for Obama, persuaded him to vote for her one-time rival.He too said his efforts on behalf of Obama will match those he would have put forth for Clinton."This is not about Clinton. It's not about Obama. It's about the nation. The nation is due for a change," Lewis said.Democratic leaders on the national level are counting on Florida's Clinton backers to fully support Obama. Again on Wednesday Democrats from other states spoke to delegates about the importance of Florida in the national picture.Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer rallied Florida, pulling no punches as delegates finished their breakfasts. "You don't win elections by showing up at these breakfasts. You win elections by knocking on doors," said Schweitzer, fresh off a prime-time speech at the Pepsi Center Tuesday. "(Florida) is a state that decides elections. And lately you've been doing a damn poor job," Schweitzer said.X...X...XFormer U.S. Sen. Bob Graham departed from the party line of criticizing Republican presidential candidate John McCain during his remarks to the delegation Wednesday. "Some of you may not like what I have to say," Graham began. "We have two quality people running for president."John McCain is not a perfect man. He can be a little emotional ... but he is fundamentally a good person. I would feel comfortable waking up in the morning with John McCain as president."Graham went on to say the McCain represents a continuation of the policies of president George W. Bush. "If you believe what we need is another four years, then vote John McCain. If you believe we need to take a different track, Barack Obama will start the process of restoring America," Graham said.X...X...XSouthwest Florida got a moment in the spotlight Wednesday when Dave Aronberg, a state senator who represents part of Lee County, spoke at the breakfast meeting.Aronberg, the youngest member of the state senate, said his focus of late has been on younger voters. "Young voters are motivated like never before. Young voters are working hard for the voice of a new generation, Barack Obama," Aronberg said.X...X...XIt wasn't all politics Wednesday. Rick Minor, chairman of the Democratic Party of Leon County, sprang a surprise marriage proposal on his fiancee, Jessica Lowe, on the podium. She said yes.(Brent Batten is a political columnist for the Naples Daily News in Florida.)
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