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May 28th, 2008
12:31 PM ET

About those Michigan and Florida delegates...

Candy Crowley
CNN Senior Political Correspondent

Important things to note about Michigan and Florida delegates:

  1. More important than how many delegates are seated from Michigan and Florida is how many are seated for whom. The party staff memo is neutral on this subject. It will be decided in Saturday’s meeting. Hillary won both states so she clearly hopes more will be seated for her so she can get closer (though she will not surpass) Obama in elected pledged delegates to strengthen her argument to superdelegates that she should be nominee.
  2. The internal democratic party memo (to be used as the parameters of Saturday’s discussion) says that party rules AUTOMATICALLY punish rule-breaking states by voiding AT LEAST 50 percent of the delegates. Currently 100 percent of the delegates have been disallowed by rules committee. The party staff memo found that to be legal under party rules. But everyone agrees the 100 percent punishment will not stand. The 50 percent punishment is "most likely” according to two members of rules and bylaws committee (one Hillary backer another an Obama backer)... But whole committee decides Saturday.
  3. A 50 percent reduction in delegates could mean half the delegates from Michigan and Florida would not go to Denver or all delegates will go and get half a vote.

And finally, from the beginning everyone knew that these delegations would be seated in some fashion. Party can’t afford to alienate two delegate rich states.

Flight attendant giving evil eye–that’s all from Vegas... Will attempt Obama reaction in Colorado.
Filed under: Candy Crowley • Raw Politics
soundoff (66 Responses)
  1. Dan, Marquette, MI

    Candy

    I was thinking the same as Kim D...why isn't CNN and other media groups revisiting Senator Clinton's comments when the DNC announced that Michigan and Florida were going to be penalized for going ahead with moving up their primary dates??? Being from Michigan, I knew about this and was very upset with our governor for her lack of good judgement to avoid this mess – therefore I did not vote because it was clearly stated that our state primary was in violation of the rules and that the primary would not count...HOW SAD WAS THAT! ...and how unfortunate was the fact that I just didn't vote...

    So, what you can do (and I hope other news groups will also do) is take a look back at those clips and bring everyone back to what was said....I'm sure many of us in Michigan – as well as Florida have only wished that our two state elected governors had followed the rules – but they didn't, and we didn't vote...so, there you have it...

    That was then, and this is now...I will support the democratic party and trust everyone else out there who is saying that "if such-and-such happpens, or if so-and-so wins I won't vote...or I won't support..", better take a serious look at your children, or grandchildren or the youth of this great country (if you don't have any children) and realize that YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT, and that WE THE PEOPLE, are the final say in who is elected, and what we want to happen and how we want it to happen for our nation... our children deserve this from all of us. It's time we all wake up and take this to heart!

    May 29, 2008 at 9:06 am |
  2. J.V.Hodgson

    Michigan and Florida,
    Half or full still favours Obama regarding PD's it does nothing to reslolve HRC claim on Popular vote or law suits which will not go away and allow HRC to prolong her fight to the convention which she will do.
    As I read the blogs all over the place and political commentaries no one sees that as good for the Democratic party.
    Seating Florida and Michigan at 50% still means the math and convention stand in favour of Obama, but seating them at 100% dissipates potential arguments from legal challenges designed by the Clinton campaign to justify continuing on to the convention.
    The DNC has a difficult compromise to figure out, but we should all remember it is delegate count only that decides not so called popular vote when primaries do not attract the full democratic vote, with Michigan attracting 25%compared with the last G Election!How on earth can anyone predict atthis time a G Election vote for anyone and Obama and or Clinton in Polls lead Mcain and its a tie for O & C QED follow the pledged delegates.
    Regards,
    Hodgson.

    May 29, 2008 at 3:19 am |
  3. Lessie Donelson

    Michigan & Florida BROKE THE RULES! Why is that so difficult to
    understand? They are to be disreguarded in THIS election. Those
    states thought tthey were smart enough to get away with it!
    THEY DISQUALIFIED THEMSELVES! Mr. Obama was NOT on the
    Michigan ballot. I live in Michigan, those of us who voted for him
    had to WRITE HIS NAME IN!

    May 29, 2008 at 1:17 am |
  4. Kent, Illinois

    Annie Kate...........

    Your candidate lost........................it is over. I guess the Clintons aren't the only ones in the dark. The circus they are parading around this country has only a few stops left. Then it will disband and they will be forgotten...........

    May 29, 2008 at 1:07 am |
  5. jt the Best Choice!

    I know the Media and the DNC wants Obama.

    But Rookie Senator, No Experience, No Record to proved of success.

    No way Obama.

    Hillary is the better candidate, count Florida and Michigan

    Stop being jealous and select Hillary.

    May 29, 2008 at 12:56 am |
  6. lisa

    where do I start ? we Democrats, fighting not against the Republicans but against each other !!!! I work for the press, I am white and I am sad. By now we should be planning stragities to winn in Nov. If we break the rules for Hillary { Billary } what message are we sending to the rest of the world What is the message to the kids. We need to unite. I Respect Sen. Oboma he followers the rules That is leadership at it's best P.S My visiting both states and interviewing citizins in both states most tells me that they wish they could vote again they would vote for OBOMA . There you have it.

    May 29, 2008 at 12:56 am |
  7. Pat Kennedy

    The politicains shortchange american voters. How sad. The issue is who do you believe will best represent your position – not who is free of the politcal machine – because not one of the candidates is free of the financial support that they need to buy our votes. Who will you sell you politcal vote to? Most importantly: STOP LISTENING TO THE TALKING HEADS FOR THE CANDIDATES AND VOTE YOUR CONSCIOUS.

    May 29, 2008 at 12:41 am |
  8. Big Stan Dancen, Eden Prairie,Mn.

    To be honest, the democratics will have to write Flordia off. I think maybe Hillary could get by McCain but in Flordia Obama....no way.
    Now, first of all I like Obama and I think he will be the one to lead the party in November.

    Michigan is all McCains so all this arguement is for nothing. I don't feel Hillary or Obama can win Michigan.

    The only hope for Florida is Hillary. If they don't pick her for VP....I think it will be a big mistake.

    Anyway....make it quick and move on....this will kill the party. I place 99% of the blame on that @#&*&%$#@ John Dean.

    May 29, 2008 at 12:23 am |
  9. Susan from Tennessee

    Candy-

    Thanks so much for your great reporting. I love to hear your take on the campaign trail.

    I watched tonight and you stated the Rules Committee Meeting would be televised. On what station? The only place I have been able to find is online at democrats.org.

    Thanks so much-

    Susan
    Chattanooga, TN

    May 29, 2008 at 12:04 am |
  10. Diana

    If any of you think Hillary is fighting so hard for FLA and MI because she cares about the people, I've got some swamp land I need to sell you. Where was that caring about the vote at the beginning when she agreed to not seat FLA and MI because they broke the rules. She should have been fighting it then. I agree that something should be done to let FLA and MI have a part, but it scares me that there is even one adult out there that really doesn't see through Hillary on this issue.

    May 28, 2008 at 11:32 pm |
  11. Kim D

    Hi Candy – you rock,
    Ok, I wish someone would play the clip of Hillary saying the votes
    wouldn't count, and her saying that was fine because she'd have this
    primary wrapped up by Feb 5th and wouldn't need the votes.
    Back then Hillary was the front runner, But they didn't stay that way
    and now the rules should be changed on her behalf. Her campaign
    has been run poorly and that's nobodys fault but their own, It's sad and unfortunate but that's life.
    I never thought she should get out of the race, but don't bash a fellow
    democrat , go after McCain. I can't believe all that has been said from
    her and Bill. They need to think about the Clinton legacy, all the
    wonderful things they have done for this Country, I'm afraid they are
    losing credability. Well, that's just my opinion. Keep up the good work
    Candy.
    Kim
    Millis, Ma

    May 28, 2008 at 11:08 pm |
  12. Loretta from California

    I will not vote for Hillary Clinton.

    Loretta- According to CNN I go to church, sit like a Zombie, and absorb and except anything that my minister has to say.

    May 28, 2008 at 11:05 pm |
  13. Debbi Kleppen, OR

    This weekend will tell all....Hillary's true intentions.....will it be win at any cost or accept what is? I fear the "win at any cost" will be her mantra given she is already rallying her troops to protest the DNC gathering to decide what to do about MI and FL...as the days pass my respect for Hillary diminishes...I don't believe she will do anything to make sure the democrats get the White House....she'd only do that if she were the nominee.

    May 28, 2008 at 11:02 pm |
  14. Michele, Oregon

    SC gal: "Clinton is fighting for the voters in these two states"

    Truth: She is fighting for herself.......................................

    May 28, 2008 at 11:02 pm |
  15. Michele, Oregon

    Diane: Thanks for your rational commentary. I am in my fifties, white, Catholic, and an Obama supporter as well. We all know that alot of the people did not come out and vote because their candidate was not on the ballot as they were informed ahead of time. The results are obviously skewed, and while they can recognize all of the delegates so that no one is disenfranchised, they should not go to Clinton as they stand. To do so would be a gross miscarriage of justice,

    May 28, 2008 at 10:59 pm |
  16. June

    I'm sick to death of all this pretend caring about Florida and Mitchigan voters being disenfranchised. If Hillary had come out of Super Tuesday with as many delegates as she thought she would it would be a non issue. What are we trying to teach our children? Break the rules and you'll get a big reward?. Suddenly Bill Clinton is really upset that his wife s not being treated with respect!!!! HELLOOOOOOOO! How soon he forgets.

    May 28, 2008 at 10:51 pm |
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