LANSING, Mich., April 4, 2008
No Do-Over Primary For Michigan Democrats
State Party Committee Officially Decides Against Revote; Fate Of Delegates Unresolved
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(CBS/AP)
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Members of the state party's executive committee issued a statement Friday saying "we have concluded that it is not practical" to conduct a party-run primary or caucus as a way to get the state's Democratic National Convention delegates seated.
Michigan and Florida were stripped of their convention delegates for moving up their primaries in defiance of party rules. Florida Democrats already had decided against holding a second primary election.
Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton
won the Jan. 15 Michigan primary. Rival Barack Obama had pulled his name from the ballot.
State Democrats now hope the two campaigns can agree on a way to split Michigan's pledged delegates so they can be seated at the Aug. 25-28 convention.
A working group of four top Democrats - U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger and Democratic National Committee member Debbie Dingell - has been working with the candidates' campaigns and the state and national parties to find a compromise.
"We will continue to work with the working group, the DNC and the candidates to resolve this matter in a manner which is respectful of the views of Democrats in Michigan, and which is fair to those who voted in the January 15th Democratic primary," the executive committee said in its statement.
The 79 members of the executive committee include Gov. Jennifer Granholm as well as other top elected officials, union leaders and party activists. Not all were in on Friday's conference call, but the motion passed without dissent.
Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer said earlier this week that he was concerned there was not enough time to set up voting sites for an election that could have drawn at least 2 million voters. Any alternative vote would have to be completed by June 10 to be counted under DNC rules.
He also cited concerns about the cost of a second election, which he said could have hit at least $10 million, decreasing party funds.
Friday's vote capped weeks of frenzied negotiations to find a way to hold a do-over Michigan election. There was talk last month of holding a June 3 primary run by the state and paid for by private Democratic donors. But Michigan lawmakers declined to take up a bill setting up that election.
Party officials also considered holding a party-run primary or mail-in election.
The Obama campaign has called for splitting Michigan 128 pledged delegates 50-50, regardless of Clinton's Jan. 15 win. The Clinton campaign so far has rejected that idea. Michigan also has 28 superdelegates, elected officials and other top Democrats who don't have to commit to any candidate before the convention.
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More From Politics
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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See all 92 CommentsPosted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:27 PM : Apr 05, 2008
You''re right,Hillary doesn''t flip flop,she just lies and never comes through,LOL!
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Posted by katg21 at 12:20 PM : Apr 06, 2008
As if they''d gone down under Bush,or will go down under McCain.Idiot.
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
Posted by OurOnlyHope
Your "view is narrow" if you believe Obama can fix anything.
Posted by ninasevyn
Why don''t you ask Howard Dean that question?
Our biggest problem is the War spending. As of today it''s at 519 BILLION (!). If we vote in McCain, that $ is going to have to come from SOMEWHERE. Our debts to foreign nations is up to 400 BILLION & our Mortgage problem is already rippling around the world. We will soon get to the end of our ability to Borrow...then the bills are going to either go UNPAID (WWIII?) (massive job/business losses?) (McCain''s Black Hole Depression?) and I don''t want to think of where that path may lead.
Or....YES! tax increases. YOU do the math.
OR VOTE Dem & get out of the war...fix problems HERE before it''s too late!
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
Posted by OurOnlyHope
Why...you like higher taxes? Just curious.
LIES - Under sniper fire in Bosnia !?! the video-tape put an end to THAT lie once & for all.
FlipFlopping - After months of saying she was NEVER a supporter of NAFTA, the truth was revealed when we FINALLY got copies of what she said during her 1st Lady years.
- ALSO, she voted YES for the war...of course NOW she is against it
- ALSO, last year she stated FL votes ''Will count for Nothing'' and MI votes ''Won''t count''. Her tune changed on that one...now that she needs the votes.
Of course, I''ll take EITHER of these flawed candidates before I''d vote for the NUCLEAR BOMB that is John McCain!
Obama hasn''t won the support yet. Why should Hillary Clinton get out of the race?
Actually, Hillary, as opposed to Obama has conducted herself completely by the DNC rules because she knew them. On the other hand, Mr. Obama did not
Hillary may have embellished, but she doesn''t flip flop on her stances. She posted her stances months ago and stands by them, whereas Obama didn''t post anything until December.
Obama lies about really dangerous issues, and lies about his abilities, and about his corrupt connections.
No Obama!
1. She can not commit to policies. She could change her mind at a whim and will.
2. She is impulsive. Not a good trait for a 3am phone call.
3. She lies, for the good of her own self interests to get elected.
4. She is a rule changer. If it benefits her delegate count why live with the DNC''s authority and regulations. This last one will distroy the party and it might be the Rep. or/and DNC''s fault but this does not help unify the Democrats. Perplexing why she is still in the race and whay self interest she really has to back in the Whitehouse. Maybe it is all for Bill, this would not be so selfish and he can smoke his last cigar.
dodee look a like ON THE U.S. or us
Obama lied about his legislative prowess. He was a total failure in the Illinois senate for 7 years. Never got one spit of legislation passed until it was handed to him in his 8th year.
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Posted by Policrypt at 06:20 PM : Apr 05, 2008
I don''t know why not. Everybody is trying to pressure Hillary into conceding Obama votes in Michigan he didn''t even win!
The media was manipulating the vote by holding back on Obama until after most of the states held their primaries.
Lots of people didn''t know what a quack he was.
The DNC rules committee has put off ruling on his breaking the rules, yet they know when push comes to shove they will have to.
Mainly because Obama broke DNC rules in both Florida and Michigan. So if it came down to a shoot out, that will be fought within the DNC and he may not be able to be awarded any delegates from those states. That''s why he''s ambivalent about re-votes. And that''s why he wants HIllary to concede him 50% of the delegates from Michigan. He wants it to come to an agreement without a shoot out.
No problem at all, Sir, anytime.
WHY is Obama afraid to let Fl and Mich votes count? He preaches (although not lately) that he wants everybody to be included. Okay, were waiting for your answer.
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See all 92 Comments