Democrats in standoff over Florida and Michigan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battle to be the Democratic presidential nominee, the winner could be determined by primaries held weeks ago in Florida and Michigan, even though the party decided to ignore their results.

Both contests have been ruled unofficial because the states violated Democratic Party rules by moving their elections forward in a bid to have more influence in selecting the nominee.

Now Michigan and Florida's 366 suspended delegates could prove decisive if neither candidate lands a knockout blow in the states remaining before the party's August convention.

Party officials are trying to avoid an ugly standoff that could linger through the summer and anger the 2.4 million voters who participated in the two primaries, both swing states that may be crucial in the November election.

"The party is certainly concerned that some voters feel their votes didn't count," said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski.

So far neither state has agreed to stage another contest.

Florida party officials say the state's large elderly and military populations would have trouble participating in a caucus, while a mail-based election would cost up to $10 million.

Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin said last week it would not be "practical or fair" to hold a caucus after 600,000 people have already voted in that state's primary. Others have said it should not decide delegates because many stayed away from the polls on the belief their vote would not count anyway.
Democrats in standoff over Florida | Politics | Reuters

The Dems have more/less stated that these key states vote doesn't count while the GOP has taken a bit less hard line view on things. Can these people shoot themselves in the foot any further?

Besides aiding the GOP with this type of garbage they are now going to be hurting the party with divisions regarding the issue via Clinton...wanting the count and Obama...NOT wanting them included.

He won't debate...doesn't recognize votes from two major states. Yipper, the candidate for change.....LMAO!!!

The sound of President McCain doesn't seem so far out of reach.....

Have a good one!:s4:

th whole problem in this situation is that the dem party in fflorida and michagan was told when they decided to go against the party party guide lines and hold their caucusus early that the penalty is that their votes would not count. correct me if im wong here but both states went to clinton. now she is trailing in the polls and the race and it looks more and more everyday obama is gointo win this. andlow and ehold now he wants to count them votes. o course she does. and of course obama with his narrow lead doesnt want them counted.

rules are rules and penaltys are penltys. you break the rules you have to pay the penalty. the voters knew goin into it that their party broke the rules and their votes wouldnt count.

the eay olution to this in my opinion would be to do away with this system and just have all the states vote on the same day. problem solved

please forgive any misspellings my keyboard is acting up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yokinazu

the eay olution to this in my opinion would be to do away with this system and just have all the states vote on the same day. problem solved

please forgive any misspellings my keyboard is acting up

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BINGO!!! I'd vote for that!!:thumbsup:
Damn t.v. ratings though....not to mention that alot of egos wouldn't have the attention that they need.

Have a good one!:s4:

I think counting the delegates now would be changing the rules in the middle of the game.

Those states were told by the national party not to move their primaries, or their delegates would not count. I don't think that's fair to those states' voters, but that's what their state party leaders decided to do, so their delegates do not count. Changing it now would not be fair to the candidates who did not put their names on the ballot in the states that do not count, or to the voters who stayed home becasue they knew their votes would not count.

It's a fucked up situation, but everyone knew the rules going into it, and I don't think they should change it now.

Don't allow rule changes in the middle of a campaign. Hillary knew their votes wouldn't count just as Obama did, she snoozed and she lost, tough tittie, If it were the other way around, do you think Obama would be trying to get those votes, Probably, but the same should apply to him.