Florida & Michigan: All the Delegates, Half the Votes
As we reported yesterday, the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws committee reinstated all Florida and Michigan delegates.
Each gets only half a vote, however, as a penalty for those states moving their primaries earlier than the party had approved (February 5).
Here’s a look at how this shapes up numerically:
- The move narrowed front-runner Sen. Barack Obama’s lead over rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, but not by a very significant margin. Based on the DNC’s decision, she received 87 pledged delegates to his 63.
- The committee’s ruling gave Clinton 105 pledged delegates from Florida and 69 from Michigan. Halved, that gives her a total of 87.
- Obama received 67 pledged delegates from Florida and 59 from Michigan. Halved, that amounts to 63 delegates.
- This leaves Obama ahead in overall delegates 2,051-1,877.
- The magic number needed to win is now 2,118.
If all of the delegates from Florida and Michigan had been granted a full vote, Hillary Clinton still would have trailed Barack Obama.
But this decision was greeted by most as an acceptable compromise - as it should be, as the DNC created this mess in the first place, and changing the rules back after changing them in the first place (and no one competed in the two states) would have been absurd. Saturday’s decision was the only logical outcome.
Will the results change the story? Absolutely not. So is it over, then? Not remotely. Clinton - unhappy with the Michigan result - can appeal any decision made by the committee, dragging the dispute all the way to Denver if she so chooses.
It’s sad but true in this convoluted system that the superdelegates must end this.
After the final three primaries are held (Puerto Rico today, Montana and South Dakota Tuesday), 86 more pledged delegates will be apportioned. Needing 63 of those to clinch the nomination, Obama won’t quite get there.
A new wave of superdelegate support (are you listening, Al Gore?) would put him over the top. Let’s hope it happens sooner rather than later.
NATIONAL
June 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I can see Ickes causing chaos at the DNC. I wouldn’t if Bill will be creating mayhem too. Remember Rush Limbaugh wanting to create chaos? I expect a friggen nightmare. We’ll just have to wait.
There is no unity here! After this fiasco and her changing the rules every other week — hillary wouldnt get my vote for dog catcher,
whining is kind — she is splitting the party apart for her own ego — and she knows exactly what she is doing — and ickes is even worse, just watch the chaos all these NeoCons create at the DNC!
June 1st, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Well, the Clintons certainly have not done the reputation of the Democratic party. I’ve always thought Clinton gave the Republicans everything they asked for, and was controlled by them. Still do. Don’t think it’s a deliberate on the Clinton’s part ..other than power is more important than anything else to them. Sad. I once thought I admired the Clinton’s so called goals..until I realized, other than appointing Ginsburg..(which was vitally important) then were the perfect Republicans..even more so today. Of course, those who don’t get Clinton..will vote for MCCain. Why would they want a Democrat when they can get a neocon Republican in Clinton. It’s either Clinton..or ..McCain. They would NEVER vote for a Democrat. But this is NOT your bluecollar voter, nor your women voter …this is your Clinton voter..another word for neoconservative. I don’t want Clinton or McCain or their neocon agenda.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 am
I agree with the posts.
Those who are voting for McCain are doing the country an injustice.
They are showing a display of hatred for their own country man.
so much hate they can’t even vote their own party.
They would rather send this country to war and have whites, and blacks, and hispanics, and asians, and all those out there in the war to die. That is what you are doing. Sending them to continue this war. Why? ask your selves Why? because we didn’t get a female as president. because we didn’t get a white democrat. WHO CARES? Untill we can get past this race issue our country can’t work together and solve real issues while the terrorists while they are up to no good they are united in what they do. They see the common goal.
People let’s UNITE!!
The Clinton’s will say what ever to get the vote. Even playing on Puerto Rico’s becoming a state. They put out their such false hopes. If it was as easy as that it would have been done long ago so to me Hillary was just trying to say what ever to get the vote.
Obama seems to have handled well all the obstacles thrown at him.
If nit picking and trying to peg him because of what others say and is beyond his control is all they have then it’s really no leg to stand on.
The church is proving that they have issues all of their own and I am a believer but it’s been a sad witness to see what comes from the pulpit. Churches need to stick to preaching about Jesus and the Polical folks need to stick to speaking of the Economy, and what’s relevant.