In a harsh but expected move this afternoon, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee has told Florida Democrats they have thirty days to move their primary from January 29 of next year, or lose all 185 delegates to the 2008 Convention.

Washington -Democrats have decided to strip Florida of all its presidential convention delegates unless the state holds its primary later in the 2008 election calendar.

The state party has 30 days to comply by moving its contest back at least seven days from the current date of January 29th. If it doesn’t, it will lose its delegates to the nominating convention next summer.

The state party chair says she will confer with officials about the ultimatum. Elected officials in Florida have said they will consider legal action and a protest at the convention if the national party bars the state’s delegates.

Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before February 5th, except for Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.