On January 3, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle refused to issue an injunction to postpone the Florida Democratic presidential primary. However, the case remains alive, over the constitutional issue. The Florida Democratic voter who had filed the case had argued that it is the state’s fault that the Florida Democratic voters can’t elect any delegates to the national convention, and that therefore the state should be forced to schedule the primary in February. If the primary were in February, Florida Democrats could have delegates to the national convention. Ausman v Browning, 4:07-cv-519, Tallahassee. The judge said it would be chaotic to reschedule the primary at this late date.

Unity08 decided not to file the form that Texas law requires, giving notice that it intends to qualify as a party during 2008. Unity08 says it will have a major announcement about itself in a week or so.

Some months ago, Unity08 had hired an experienced ballot access director to research and coordinate the details of ballot access petitioning for the whole nation. However, that individual was laid off on December 19. These actions suggest that Unity08 has decided not to pursue its original mission of qualifying itself as a political party in as many states as possible before choosing a presidential nominee.

On January 2, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Secretary of State, alleging that state law requires a special election in the spring of 2008 to fill the seat vacated last month by Trent Lott. Governor Haley Barbour believes that the special election need not be held until November 2008. Thanks to Steve Rankin for this news. The lawsuit is in Hinds County Circuit Court. It is State ex rel Hood v Barbour, no. 251-08-02-civil.