Florida, Michigan cannot save Clinton

[Harry Monroe]

Florida, Michigan cannot save Clinton

By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michigan and Florida alone can't save Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.

Interviews with those considering how to handle the two states' banished convention delegates found little interest in the former first lady's best-case scenario. Her position, part of a formidable comeback challenge, is that all the delegates be seated in accordance with their disputed primaries.

Even if they were, it wouldn't erase Barack Obama's growing lead in delegates.

The Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee, a 30-member panel charged with interpreting and enforcing party rules, is scheduled to meet May 31 to consider how to handle Michigan and Florida's 368 delegates.

Last year, the panel imposed the harshest punishment it could render against the two states after they scheduled primaries in January, even though they were instructed not to vote until Feb. 5 or later. Michigan and Florida lost all their delegates to the national convention, and all the Democratic candidates agreed not to campaign in the two states, stripping them of all the influence they were trying to build by voting early.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PRIMARY_SCRAMBLE?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=HOME

[Zachstar]

1. There is no way in hell they are going to seat the delegates as is.

Personally for Mi I think their plan is fine with FL at 50/50 or a plan for them as well.

But the way things are is just not worth it.

The BEST Clinton can hope for in FL is half stripped.

[AtomicKitten]

2. The best case scenario for her won't jettison her into the lead.

It is becoming glaringly apparent that she knows this, that she knows legally she doesn't have a leg to stand on (she signed on to the disposition of the consequences of states veering from the DNC calendar, the agreement brokered by her own people), but is stalling for time to continue hammering at Obama, running a third-leg campaign against him.

No worries. The superdelegates are coming in a steady flow into Obama's camp and he will be shutting her down right quick and in a hurry.

Hillary needs to understand that VP isn't a consolation prize. She lost and there is no second place in politics. Now she is simply jeopardizing her own career.

[The_Counsel]

3. If I Were Senator Obama, This Is What I Would Suggest/Agree To:

1. Both MI and FL lose their unpledged delegates (known to the average bear as "superdelegates"). It's the politicians' fault that we have this mess. The FL Dems were outnumbered and has no balls. The MI Dems were trying to cut the line to help Hillary. Their punishment should be to have NO SAY AT ALL. Period.

2. In MI, as the best solution RE: the pledged delegates (a re-vote) just isn't possible, split them 50:50 between Hillary and Obama. On second thought, split them 51:49 in Hillary's favor to give her credit for winning what turned out to be a flawed primary. Splitting them 3:2 for Hillary as I've heard suggested is just plain silly and wrong.

3. Let the vote stand as is in FL and dole out the pledged delegates accordingly. If there's still time to have their state nominating meeting, let it go on as planned and whatever final numbers come out of it will be the final numbers.

This plan would put the blame/punishment where it belongs. The voters would still have their say. Sort of. And hopefully, no one else tries to pull this foolishness in 2012 and/or beyond. I've heard it suggested that the pledged delegates' voter strength should be cut in half, but that really punishes the voters, and who needs that?

Just my $0.02...

[Seabiscuit]

4. Obama wouldn't have refused to support a revote in MI and FL if he didn't fear losing both big.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. Florida party leaders & Hillary's Natl Co Chair opposed Florida Revote

and Michigan's state legislature opposed it.

Now, are you going to say that Obama controls the Michigan state legislature?

If so, and if he has that much influence, would you argue that
he would love a re-vote that actually had his name on the ballot next time?

After he now has name recognition equal to Hillary's.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. Obama didn't refuse Michigan re-vote, decision was not his

it was the Michigan State Legislature.

And you claim Obama wouldn't win there, so why didn't the Michigan State Legislature
support a "do-over"?

[mkultra]

5. GOD cannot save hillary