In the end, it wasn't all that close after all.
Saturday morning in the Central Florida town of Lake Mary, the Florida Democratic Party elected Tallahassee fundraiser Allison Tant to become their new chairperson, defeating Tampa based Democratic National Committeeman Alan Clendenin 587-448.
In a show of unity that was missing throughout their short but intense campaign that lasted less than two full months, Clendenin was then elected vice chairman, with the two then grasping their hands over their heads.
"We are going to work together, we are going to be unified and we are going to beat Rick Scott," Tant said immediately after the vote was announced. "We are going to turn this party into a powerhouse for winning elections with the talent, energy and vitality of the people in this room."
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2013.