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So… as most people already know… The states of Florida and Michigan held their primaries earlier than set by the rules of the Democratic Party. So… The DNC rules committee decided to penalize the two states by taking away ALL of the delegates that would have normally been awarded to them after their state primaries. Must say that it was the dumbest decision the Democratic party has ever made! With the close contests between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, this has made every single state count; Florida and Michigan especially since they are both large states and considered vitally important in a general election. The Decision… To account for the delegates from each state the committee decided to award each delegate from both states half of a vote at the convention. The delegates were awarded proportionally according to how each state voted. This also created another problem with the Michigan delegates where Barack Obama removed his name from the ballot. Of the 40% of the Michigan voters who voted “Uncommitted” they awarded Barack Obama with those delegates, since it was safe to assume that those would have been votes for Obama. Clinton was reimbursed with the other 60% of the delegates from the state which totaled, 69 Clinton/59 Obama. Now that this ridiculous issue has been resolved, the candidate who appears to have come out on top is definitely Obama. Clinton has absolutely no way to win based on the decision from the rules committee. The Clinton plan was to hopefully receive all of the delegates from Michigan since Obama removed his name from the ballot. The Obama plan was to split the delegates of Michigan exactly half and half and forget the primary entirely. Even though the decision infuriated Clinton supporters, it seemed to be the best compromise available without having a revote in the state. As the end result from today’s ruling, the finish line for the Democratic nominee has moved up from the original 2,026 to 2,118 total delegates needed to clinch the nomination. As of right now Obama only needs 66 more delegates to win! Clinton will still need over 200, in order for her to win, which as of right now seems literally impossible. To make an educated guess, it is officially over for Clinton. Even though it has looked quite obvious it was over for her ever since May 6, it is now officially over. There will not be enough undecided superdelegates who will move her direction to get the 200+ needed delegates to win. With the rules committee decision out of the way, one can likely expect to see even more superdelegates trickle over to the Obama camp now that he can confidently call himself the presumptive Democratic Nominee. Only three more states/territories left to vote! Let’s finally end this stupid primary season and focus on the general election in November!
By NEDRA PICKLER and BETH FOUHY WASHINGTON - Democratic Party leaders agreed Saturday to seat Michigan and Florida delegates with half-votes at this summer’s convention with a compromise that left Barack Obama on the verge of the nomination but riled Hillary Rodham Clinton backers who threatened to fight to the August convention. “Hijacking four delegates is not a good way to start down the path of party unity,” said adviser Harold Ickes. Clinton’s camp maintains she was entitled to four additional Michigan delegates. The decision by the party’s Rules Committee raised slightly the total delegates Obama needs to clinch the nomination. Clinton advisers conceded privately he will likely hit the magic number after the final primaries are held Tuesday night, but said the ruling threatened to dash any hopes of a unified party. “Mrs. Clinton has told me to reserve her right to take this to the Credentials Committee” at the convention, said Ickes, who is a member of the Rules Committee that voted Saturday. (more) Technorati Tags: Democratic Party, Michigan, Florida delegates, Barack Obama, Rodham Clinton, Harold Ickes, Rules Committee, Credentials Committee
Senator Clinton’s behavior and campaign methods over the past weeks have shown that she will do anything to be President and values her own ego more than her country. I say this with a great deal of levity and sadness, as I have been a supporter of Hillary and her husband Bill for many years. If she cares about her country and party, she will bow out of the race for the Democratic nomination. Clinton’s campaign has used every dirty trick in the book to tamp down the growing popularity of Senator Obama. She has raised the ugly specter of race, lies and innuendo to undermine her opponent’s candidacy, all to no avail. In the last week, she has raised the issue of Senator Robert Kennedy’s assassination to promote her campaign, leaving some observers wondering if perhaps she is hoping for an untimely injury to Senator Obama. To put it directly, there is no logical reason for Clinton to remain in the race at this late date. She has nothing to gain… unless something catastrophic where to afflict her opponent. God only knows what motivations drive her to continue holding on but explanations for her position are increasingly harder to rationalize. Clinton’s primary campaign reminds me of Stalin’s retreat in the opening months of the war on the Eastern Front. After the failed Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, The German army appeared ready to crush the Russian resistance before a counter attack could be organized. Stalin gave the order to burn every building, kill every animal and lay waste to his own country, rather than leave anything for the advancing Germans to appropriate. In a year that should lay the groundwork for a rational policy in the Middle East, economic policies that sustain American jobs and fortify our infrastructure for the coming global transformation, we are witnessing Senator Clinton risk all in a last ditch effort to scorch the Democratic Party to the ground rather than let Obama lead the party in the November election. I still have a great deal of respect for Senator Clinton but she has clearly demonstrated that she is unfit to serve as President. We need change in America and Ms. Clinton chose to run on experience. She made her bed and now she must sleep in it but someone must first change the sheets. They are far too soiled.
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