Obama Says Next Michigan Vote Will "Probably" Be in November

By: John Bentley
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

BECKLEY, W.V. –- While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to jab each other over a possible re-vote in Michigan and Florida, a transplanted Michigan voter got to the heart of the controversy today in West Virginia.

"When am I going to vote for you in Michigan?" asked Jeff Lynch, a patron at Murad's sports bar in Charleston, where Obama had stopped in to grab some buffalo wings and watch some basketball.

"Probably in the general election," Obama said. "A redo vote is very complicated. Because, for example, you had a lot of people who didn't think they could be counted, and they voted in the Republican primary…"

Lynch interrupted the senator. "Now they're opposed to voting."

Obama continued. "So some of them threatened they might sue. It's just a complicated, difficult thing to do."

"As long as we get the chance to vote for you," Lynch said.

"Oh yeah, in the general [election] I'll be right there, campaigning all the time," Obama said.

But Clinton would like to see Obama on a Michigan ballot substantially sooner than November. "For the life of me, I don't understand why Senator Obama seems to be afraid of letting there be a re-vote in Michigan," she said. "I do not see how two of the largest and most significant states can be disenfranchised and left out of the process of picking our nominee without raising the questions about the legitimacy of that nominee."

The governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, said she was disappointed that a state-run, privately funded primary was no longer a possibility, but that a mail-in contest or even a caucus are options that may still be considered. "There is no road to the White House that does not go through Michigan," she said. "It is essential that Michigan voters have a voice in who will be our party's nominee and, ultimately, the next president of the United States."

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by lucilioness March 23, 2008 9:21 PM EDT: HOW STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO CAMPAIGN AND "WIN" AND ELECTION(S) (MI/FLA) THAT REALLY DOESN''T COUNT, BECAUSE THE DUMB A$$ GOVENORS/MAYORS/WHOEVER DIDN''T FOLLOW THE RULES. NOW THAT BILLARY IS LOSING, THEY WANT A "DO OVER". WHAT CANDIDATE, IN THEIR RIGHT MIND, AND WHO''S WINNING, BY THE WAY, WOULD AGREE TO A NEW VOTE IN THESE STATES: NONE!!! THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT THEY ELECT TO OFFICE THE NEXT TIME SOME BULLSH!T LIKE THIS HAPPENS. BILLARY IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE A WHINNING, BITTER, NAGGING A$$ EX-WIFE/HUSBAND. GO OBAMA!!; Reply to this comment


by hhkeller March 21, 2008 4:44 PM EDT: Florida and Michigan residents should count only as 3/5 persons.; Reply to this comment


by racer72-2009 March 21, 2008 4:32 PM EDT: The 14th amendment states that the rights of citizens cannot be taken away. The Republican governor took away those rights in Florida by signing to move the primary. And sorry, but Obama is blocking the vote in Michigan. Everything was set for a vote on June 3rd but he refuses to allow it and without BOTH candidates support it cannot be held.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 March 21, 2008 2:08 PM EDT: Let''s vote for another middle east war on an Islamic country Iran, and force gasoline rationing for $5.00 (and up) a gallon when available!; Reply to this comment


by greenfun March 21, 2008 1:56 PM EDT: Obama is getting desperate. he wants us to believe he is a remarkable, principled candidate. Just don''t count on him to back up your constitutional right to have your vote count.
No, I wasn''t at the church when those things were said.
oops, I was at the church when controversial things were said.
I received 150 grand from Rezco.
Oops, the trial has started, actually it was 250 grand.; Reply to this comment


by truthbug March 21, 2008 1:24 PM EDT: How can he reason that his supporters switched to vote to republican? In Michigan, he and Edwards campaigned to vote UNCOMMITTED so the Michigan vote will not count.

OBAMA said it officially now that HE, the supposed advocate for equality, WANTS TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTES. He is a REAL traditional politician.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 March 21, 2008 12:52 PM EDT: John McCain and the abhorrent Republican Party that have been responsible for the many detrimental results of greed and corruption have now taken the lead in a recent poll for President. American is being turned off by the two Democratic Candidates combating each other and splitting the party and repulsing moderate voters.

Americans need to examine all the issues and not regress to voting against their own better interests. LOOK AT THE ISSUES! And, the results of the Republican Party Policies.; Reply to this comment


by hhkeller March 21, 2008 11:46 AM EDT: Which candidate is a religious opportunist.
Which candidate only wants some of the electorate counted.
No not Bush, .. Obama; Reply to this comment


by craigh9 March 21, 2008 11:01 AM EDT: This whole exercise gives you tremendous insight into the primary differences of these 2 candiates.

One feels that people should play by the rules and be accountable for their actions - and one who feels every situation can be manipulated to satisfy a political want no matter if the situation is appropriate - just do it for personal gain.

I think if people really look at this from this vantage point it is very clear who is the much more presidential candidate and who would have clearer, fairer policies.; Reply to this comment


by rale1 March 21, 2008 5:45 AM EDT: To BLKPRESIDENT:

I''d like to answer your question:

"Face it, you have a choice to make: a girl, an OLD man like McCain or Obama. What''''s so hard about picking the right man for the job?"

I would choose a candidate whom I know would definitely work her *** of than just lay down on the down and write speeches. NOBAMA is ambitious, yet, lazy, just like his comment about his white grandmother---saying that she''s a typical racist white. Now here''s a generalization for you and NOBAMA. Do you ever see Latinos/Hispanics or Asians beg for money on the street? Of course the answer is NO! Why, because unlike Blacks, Latinos and Asians have pride and hardworking people.

So enjoy your candidate being the nominee as a lot of who chose experience over arrogance will have the last laugh when the GOP grabbed NOBAMA''s b@77s. I''d like to see the IGNORAMA camp stand by him. The GOP has embraced Youtube as their best friend, just as NOBAMA embraced his racist Uncle Rev. Jeremiah Wright.; Reply to this comment