Post-convention, I think the vast majority of Michigan/Florida voters won't give a damn.

[Bicoastal]

Your average citizens aren't nearly as diehard and easily offended as their representative politicians or DU'ers. Florida is hard to put your finger on, but Michigan is hurting badly from 8 years of Bush screwing the economy, and I suspect most people would never allow 4 more years of likeminded policies from President John McCain if they can help it. In fact, it is thanks to George W. Bush that this year people will be more likely to want to make a difference for the entire country, rather than sustain a sort of grudging loyalty to the state they live in--we've seen a flip-flopping from red to blue in Republican strongholds like Virginia and Colorado, and perhaps it'll happen in the perennial battleground state of Florida as well.

I've seen a poll floating around that 20% of voters in at least one of these states are less enthusiastic about voting Democratic in November. Well, this was inevitable from the day these states screwed the pooch and forced the party leadership to take away their delegates--and don't forget, NOBODY is campaigning there yet. What we WILL need is a nominee that can smooth out the rough edges and campaign heavily in these states to make sure those 20% change their mind--and in my opninion, if the nominee is Barack Obama, that is more likely to happen.

[cyclezealot]

1. It certainly won't help in either state

The Democratic party structure will be weakened and infighting more likely . In both Fla and Mich. / I think they will get over it. But as McCain said in Mich. It' s nice to have the state all to ourselves. This treatment will help give the GOP momentum. / About Mich. don't be so sure. Many blue colar people have moved out of the state. The west side of the state is very Republican. Rural and agricultural. Michigan many years has gone Democratic, but only by relatively small margins. Don't think Mich is without a strong Republican base. Ever heard of Grand Rapids and the Dutch of western Michigan. / The National DNC needed to have studied the response of the National RNC to the renogades in Fla and Mich. They had the good sense to penalize and not ostracize. There is some history to Michigan's beef over the delegate selection process, which the DNC has been putting under the carpet. Sure, Mich might be outvoted by the DNC , but that won't help win the state come November.

[Ravy]

2. Delegates are generally campaign loyalists...

it would help whoever wins get their ground organization more fired up for the general election.

I agree with you though, the regular voters don't really care.

It is why I support an even division of delegates for both camps.

[Alexander]

3. I agree, especially since there are many Independents in both states.

And Democrats will generally support the Democratic nominee. That's why they are Democrats.

I think this whole "we will lose FL and MI if they don't count" business is nonsense. Most people don't care.

[TexasObserver]

4. It matters. We need a resolution that punishes misbehaving officials and doesn't reward cheaters