AMY GOODMAN: Outside the convention center, filmmaker Michael Moore announced at a news conference he’s bringing his cameras to Florida in November to make sure there’s what he called a huge spotlight on state election officials when voters go to the polls. The director of Fahrenheit 9/11 also said he plans to help pay for an army of lawyers who will be in target precincts ready to go to court if they spot any voting problems. Michael Moore encouraged other independent filmmakers to join him in Florida. Here he is yesterday at the news conference organized by congress member Corin Brown of Florida.

MICHAEL MOORE: We are here this morning to put the Bush administration, both the one in Washington D.C. and the one in Tallahassee on notice. (applause) Too many people fought for too many years to guarantee that every American citizen would have the right to vote and that their votes would be counted. Too many people died for that right. And we are not going to dishonor those who gave their lives in the Civil Rights struggles by allowing these people to steal a second election. That is not going to happen! That’s just not going to happen. (applause). And I wanted to stop by this breakfast this morning and tell you personally that I am committed. I am coming to Florida. I will be in Florida. And together, together, we will guarantee to every Floridian, that their vote will be counted this year. Make no mistake about it. I will be there, I will have my cameras there. We will put a huge spotlight on them. They will not get away with it this time.

AMY GOODMAN: Michael Moore speaking at a news conference outside the convention center. Michael Moore had originally said that he would be in Crawford, Texas last night debuting his film Fahrenheit 9/11 for the local community. But some local farmers dumped tons of manure in the stadium where the film was going to be shown and Michael Moore decided not to go there saying he didn’t want to be a distraction from local residents actually seeing the film.