Florida was given until September 29th to move or change the way it holds its primary or lose all its delegates to the Democratic National Convention (and half its delegates to the Republican convention). The verdict is in and the state will make no accommodations.

This now puts the Democratic candidates in a tuff position. They have pledged not to campaign in states the violate the party rules, however Florida holding its primary so close to Iowa and just before the onslaught of states on February 5th holds a potential PR problem. Clinton is currently ahead in Florida polling and is likely to take major states on February 5th. She seems less likely at this moment to take Iowa and her opponents had hoped to capitalize on an Iowa and/or New Hampshire loss for fundraising and as a symbol that she can be taken down further along in the primary process. With that time shortened and with a win in such a heavy general election battleground state, even with no delegate representations it could remove any “steam” gained from an Iowa win.

Florida has now put the ball squarely in the court of the candidates unless the DNC accepts the new date and allows the state to send delegates.