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March 25, 2008 11:54 AM

Clinton Adviser Says Not Letting Florida and Michigan Votes Count Insulting

Posted by Fernando Suarez
(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez

PITTSBURGH -- Choosing a nominee without Florida and Michigan votes amounts to "slapping these people on the face," according to Harold Ickes, a senior adviser to Senator Hillary Clinton.

The issue of seating Florida and Michigan delegates is crucial to Clinton’s hopes of overtaking Barack Obama’s current lead in the delegate race, and the Clinton campaign is not going to let the issue sit. In the past four days, Clinton aides have hosted three conference calls with reporters with the Florida and Michigan re-vote at the heart of the call. Today, Clinton Deputy Communications Director Phil Singer highlighted the importance of winning Florida in the general election saying, "We could have avoided the entire George W. Bush Presidency if we would have counted the votes in Florida."

The Obama campaign maintains that certain complications in a re-vote in Michigan or Florida have slowed the process, and that they are open to finding a compromise. But the Clinton campaign says they support either letting the votes stand in Florida and Michigan, or a re-vote.

As time passes, and as the nomination calendar begins to dwindle, it seems unlikely that a re-vote will occur in either state. But the Clinton campaign will continue make a case for Florida in Michigan. “We can’t jeopardize our prospects in those two states,” Singer added.
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Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by jeanb12 March 28, 2008 12:58 PM EDT

Question: When, if ever in U.S. history, have state delegations been denied seating at the Democratic convention?
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by jeanb12 March 28, 2008 12:56 PM EDT

Question: When, if ever in U.S. history, have state delegations been denied seating at the Democratic convention?
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by jeanb12 March 28, 2008 12:55 PM EDT

Question: When, if ever in U.S. history, have state delegations been denied seating at the Democratic convention?
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by hillsangels1 March 26, 2008 2:06 AM EDT
The only way the dems can win in the fall is if Hillary is the nominee. Obama sealed his fate with his past associations and his underlying contempt for ''typical white people''. He will never win, it''s that simple, and that complicated for the dems if Florida and Michigan are not counted. If they are not, it could tip the scales in the fall for McCain. The dems better think long and hard about this one. But, they can''t think too long about it.
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by grammixgirl March 25, 2008 7:54 PM EDT
It is time to put an end to this foolishness, Hillary needs to accept that she does not own the white house, it is a total turn off her ranting and ravings and lieing and trying to attack Obama and cry when he responds. Do or does any one want to go on like this for 4 or 8 years with these childish tantrums. I was for her but she has not set a professional example at all. Just remember what you see is what you get. Who wants to work in the whitehouse under these conditions. You''ll be kicked out if you don''t agree with wrong. Thank you Mr Richardson for standing up for your own voting rights. Nobody should dictate who you as an employee or former employee should vote for. You have a choice its yours.
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by dnsallday March 25, 2008 6:11 PM EDT
Hillary agreed that they wouldn''t count at the time. She signed a pledge agreeing to that. Was she lying then as well?
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by elizabethbj March 25, 2008 4:46 PM EDT
RULES ARE RULES. What are people still talking about this. Oh I am sorry rules don''t count with the CLintons.

The people will have their say in November. Rules are the rules. Breaking them or seating the delegates sends the wrong message!
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by besscannon-2009 March 25, 2008 4:35 PM EDT
The Democrats had nothing to do with the mess over Florida and Michigan. It was Republican appointees that decided it. Why should Clinton or Obama be punished? Of course, Obama doesn''t want them counted because it may put Clinton ahead. sounds like the "Bush" grab of the former election. That makes Obama just as politically flawed as Bush was. Obama has accused Hillary of doing anything to get the election, but, I think that is the pot calling the kettle black. He is up to any kind of dirty trick that will keep him ahead. He used misrepresentations to get where he is at, so WHO is devious?
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by alee25 March 25, 2008 4:23 PM EDT
First, we did not "do this to ourselves". The Michigan DNC acted what they thought was right. Incidentally, New Hampshire also moved their primary date up. Why weren''t they penalized? Second, we voted (I am a Michigan resident). And, Obama urged his supporters to vote for the uncommitted.

So, I want my vote counted. Re-vote is the fairest way but not possible now because the proposal was stone walled by Obama and his henchmen in Detroit (which includes Mayor Kilpatrick, who has just been charged with perjury and using taxpayers'' money for cover up, trying to silence a police officer).

Next fairest way is to count the Jan. votes %u2013 even offer Obama the uncommitted votes (which also went to Edwards and others).

What is not fair is to divide up the delegates 50/50; not how the votes came out.

Yes, if Obama gets the nomination without counting the votes in Michigan or Florida, he can definitely kiss my vote goodbye.
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by dreamseeker9 March 25, 2008 4:00 PM EDT
THEY did it to themselves! They didn''t follow the rules. Just b/c they have lots of delegates does not give them the right to do whatever they want. Florida and MI have no one to blame but themselves and that'' who the voters should be mad at. Get a grip .. of course if your girl wasn''t losing, this would so be a moot point. OBAMA FOREVER
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by oda755 March 25, 2008 3:44 PM EDT
Let the DNC foot the bill, not the state''s fund''s.
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