It occurred to me recently after deals to hold new primaries in Florida and Michigan fell through that there is a really easy, extremely simple solution to the problem. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could simply write $5 million checks to both the Michigan and Florida Democratic State Committees to pay for the new elections. And Former Federal Elections Commission Chairman Michael E. Toner confirmed it for me yesterday. "Federal campaigns can give unlimited amounts of campaign cash to state parties and to the national committees, the Democratic National Committee, and to the congressional and senatorial committees. It's called an unlimited transfer," Mr. Toner said. But then he hit me with a real zinger. "It would be an easy solution for the Florida and Michigan primary issue if the candidates were willing to part with their campaign dollars, and quite frankly so would any other federal candidate in the Democratic Party who had extra campaign cash lying around; say someone who knew they weren't going to have an opponent in the race coming up and had $5 million, they could donate the money to the Florida and Michigan parties to hold the elections." Could that be someone like Sen. BIll Nelson, Florida Democrat, who has been howling that the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for another election, and who hasn't had a serious primary or general election contender in a decade. That also sounds like, say, Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, who hasn't had any serious election battles in at least a decade if not more. If the Democrats are truly serious about having those votes counted, then I am sure they can find $20 million, particularly considering their huge fundraising advantage across the board. And certainly Mr. Obama, who is approaching 2 million donors, and Mrs. Clinton who boasted about raising $1 million in one day can find the money. That is if they really want those votes counted. — Brian DeBose, national political reporter, The Washington Times

• 
• Comment