by FOXNews.com
Friday, April 4, 2008
As expected, Michigan Democrats announced Friday that the latest effort to hold a re-do primary has been scrapped.
The official decision, reached in private the day before, came in a statement from the state party’s executive committee. The state party officials say “it is not practical” to conduct a party-run primary or caucus as a way to get the state’s delegates seated at the Democratic National Convention this summer.
Michigan and Florida were stripped of their convention delegates for holding early primaries in violation of party rules. Hillary Clinton won both states’ primaries, but neither candidate campaigned for the contests and Barack Obama had even pulled his name from the Michigan ballot.
Though similar plans for a do-over in Florida also have fallen through, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says he wants to seat the delegations from both states.
“We are united in our commitment to doing everything we can to ensure that a Michigan delegation is seated in Denver this summer,” Dean, Sen. Carl Levin and other Michigan Democrats said in a statement Friday.
It’s unclear how the delegates could be allocated. The collapse of the do-over plans puts the onus on the campaigns to reach a compromise on the matter. But with the race as close as it is, Democratic strategists and officials say a compromise will be difficult to come by since the decision on the delegations could tilt the election.
Dean and the other Michigan officials addressed this in their statement.
“We also know that any solution needs to be acceptable to both Democratic presidential campaigns. While there may be differences of opinion in how we get there, we will continue to work together to ensure that a Michigan delegation is seated and that the logistics are in place for a Michigan delegation in Denver. We have every expectation that we will succeed in that endeavor, and then go on to win in November,” they said.
Dean issued a similar statement on Florida Wednesday.
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said in a statement Friday that Michigan is “too important to be dismissed.”
“We urge the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee to take all necessary steps to ensure the voices of the people of Michigan are heard and its delegates are seated at the Democratic convention this summer,” he said. “Already, over 100,000 people have signed our petition calling on the DNC to seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida. We urge Senator Obama to join our efforts to ensure that the votes of the people of Michigan and Florida are counted.”
The Obama campaign has called for splitting Michigan’s 128 pledged delegates 50-50, regardless of Clinton’s Jan. 15 win. The Clinton campaign so far has rejected that idea.
It isn't Hillary's fault that Barack
didn't run in michigan. Why should she be penalized now.
EVERY VOTE SHOULD COUNT.
DON"T THROW OUT VOTES.
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