Clinton Camp Tries To Redefine Delegate Math

The Washington Times noticed that Sen. Clinton's website has changed the 'magic number' of delegates -- the number needed to secure the nomination.

Top Clinton aides said the nominee must win based on a tally that includes delegates from Florida and Michigan, which held January primaries that were disqualified by party rules. The campaign's "Delegate Hub" Web site identifies 2,208 as the total delegates needed to be nominated, or 183 more than the threshold of 2,025 set by the Democratic National Committee's rules.

Later today, the candidate herself clarified the new math:

Asked at the Indianapolis Speedway this morning, Hillary confirms that she views the threshold for delegate victory as the count that includes Michigan and Florida.

"I think it's 2,209," she said.

Comments

[Bobrobert]

Poor baby.

She is constipated again.

She has been afraid to take her laxatives on a regular basis because she cannot always find depends that will fit her.

Bill needs to make sure she starts getting more veggies and fruit along with plenty of water.

He knows that now that she is 60 and she gets fuzzy at 11pm it is very important to prevent constipation.

The last time she was constipated she had diarrhea of the mouth and kept talking about sniper fire somewhere called Bosnia.

Best of luck with your elder care after the primaries are over.

She has done her best ... now she just needs to be put out in retirement to enjoy her golden years.

Best of luck to all - don't forget to vote.

[Vantunow]

She just wants more time to try and continue to damage Obama and leave Supers no choice.

She is not going to get every single delegate from either FL or MI.

At absolute best she can net say 20 in FL and 15 in MI and that's a generous assumption.

So what? Still not even close to coming close to even within 100 of the Pledge Delegate lead.

Then what's the purpose?

Only to buy time to hope that Jeremiah Fright comes out of hiding or some thing else can be dug and forwarded to her freinds at Fox News. I am sure Hannity and O'Reilly and Greata would give any anti-Obama filth as much time as Hillary wants.

[anney]

One thing she didn't take into account -- she hoped Obama would make a terrible mistake and prove his presidential unworthiness, but she never anticipated SHE'd be the one making that mistake. I think that's called "hoist on one's petard".

That's like Wile E. Coyote.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2kZEicde8Wo&feature=related

[nellie]

She's obviously worried that Obama is going to reach 2025.

[littlemanhuff]

It all depends on what IS is - Remember those words so seriously uttered by Bill Clinton.

[meltingpot101]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ULxxBz-PAjg&feature=related

In Hillary's own words

[TheRagingModerate]

Bingo, littlemanhuff -- and that should be Obama's next commercial!

I want to see a 30-second Obama commercial that (1) reminds voters in crystal clear terms just how vilified the Clintons were throughout the 90s for their lack of integrity; (2) shows some of the classic Clintonian disingenuousness we've seen and heard in this campaign; and (3) ties it all together by saying: They're the same old Clintons the Republicans had a field day with throughout the 90s for playing fast and loose with the truth -- and yet she thinks she'll be more electable against the GOP attack machine in the fall?! They're just waiting to tear the Clintons down all over again for their dishonesty, and they have a whole new truck load of ammo since the last time around.

I'm all for keeping focused on the issues, staying positive, and sticking to the high road -- that's what attracted me to Obama in the first place -- but enough's enough. When somebody BEGS for an all-out asskicking, I don't see anything wrong with obliging.

[newzzzjunkie]

She must have been watching Olbermann yesterday. It sounds like new math to me...no matter how you add it she wins????? I think not. She's already lost in my book. Lost her dignity, her reputation, her supporters, she lost the truth and lost herself in the process. And as a result, lost the bid for the White House. Enough of the drama.......my vote is for Obama!!!!!!!

[drkazmd65]

More attempts at revisionist history from the Clinton camp,....

Must be thinking that she wants the be one of the NeoCons for sure now - that is their way of doing things. If you don't like the way the game is playing out,... change the rules so that you can win,...

It would be sad if if wasn't so friggin' scary how close she is to pulling a 'win' out of her as.

[jimchap]

she is a relentless bender of reality

[Stagehnd1]

Oh Hillary, Hillary, Hillary,...

You need to face reality! What's next,...coin toss wins the nomination??

[butterworth]

Perhaps declaring the race is decided like golf---low score wins?

[AliHajiSheik]

Why do cyclones hit Myanmar, and yet the Hilldabeast is allowed to breath?

[gdaerin]

I like how contestants get decide their own rules in this game.

Cool.

This just in: Barack Obama has decided he thinks the number needed to win is 1744.5 and has just now accepted the nomination!

Yay democracy

[WMichaelTenery]

Barack Obama has never once asked to change any of the rules already laid out at the start of this process. That's merely a projection of the candidate who literally has the goal posts on a parade float she drives around the stadium.

[CatLadyforObama]

I think it was a hypothetical joke making fun of Clinton.

[realtalk]

You've bought into Hillary propaganda! Here a clue, Hillary Clinton like ALL the other democratic candidates signed a document 15 months ago, saying that Florida, and Michigan votes would not count. When I say ALL the democratic candidates, I mean ALL, including Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mick Gravel, Bill Richardson, Dennis kucinich, and Tom Vilsack, and Barack Obama. ALL THESE CANDIDATES DECIDED TOGETHER, 15 months ago, THAT FLORIDA, AND MICHIGAN WOULD NOT COUNT BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS IN THOSE STATES BROKE DNC RULES AND MOVED UP THE DATE OF THEIR PRIMARIES, WHICH WAS AGAINTS THE RULES.
Hillary Clinton is playing you for a fool, if you actually think that she has always wanted Florida, and Michigan to count, SHE DID NOT. Here is the proof from Hillray Clinton's own Campaign:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8wX99qUo3Ow
The fact is Hillary Clinton only started changing the rules when she thought that it would benefit her. And she has been manipulating the Florida, and Michigan voters ever since.
This can be looked at two ways: Hillary does not keep her word, or honor contracts, and thereby should not be trusted. And Hillary will manipulate the voters, tell them lies, inorder to get her way, even when she knows she is breaking the rules.
Why you trust this Hillary Clinton boggles my mind. She thinks it is okay for her to break contracts whenever she feel like it. She does not keep her word

[claylandg]

On February 2, 2007, the Democratic Party published 'Call for the 2008 Democratic National Convention'[4], the rules governing the convention. There will be 3,253 pledged delegates, those committed to vote for a particular candidate, selected by primary voters and caucus participants. There will be about 795 unpledged delegates, those free to vote for any candidate, colloquially known as superdelegates, for a total of about 4,048 delegates, requiring 2,025 votes to constitute a majority of the convention. (This figure includes zero delegates for Michigan and Florida, which would have 313 pledged delegates and about 54 unpledged delegates, so if those states are awarded delegates, the total number of delegates to achieve a majority will be greater than 2,025.[5]) The superdelegates consist of DNC members, Democratic Congress members and Governors, and other prominent Democrats.[6] The final number of superdelegates will not be known until the convention. [7]
Got this off of the dnc web site, so if Florida and Mich is counted then the delegates needed would increase. Sorry Obama mites Hillary got it right!!!!

[nellie]

And she might just see a landslide of defections if she tries to pull this "nuclear" option. Delegates pledged to her are already switching to Obama.

[evekendall]

YOU and Hillary got it wrong. Your own post says: "There will be about 795 unpledged delegates, those free to vote for any candidate, colloquially known as superdelegates, for a total of about 4,048 delegates, requiring 2,025 votes to constitute a majority of the convention. (This figure includes zero delegates for Michigan and Florida. . . "

Since Florida and Michigan can't count according to the DNC pledge signed by Hillary, then the number remains at 2,025 . . . NOT 2,208.

BUT, just to be charitable, he still wins even if you include Florida and Michigan.

[evekendall]

Listen to Hillary Clinton's own words: "Well, you know, it's clear. This election is not going to count for anything."

Link is here:

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=zydzt

[littlemanhuff]

It all depends on what IS is - Remember!!!

[JiminNC]

Okay, how bout the best 5 out of 9 ... Okay, the best 7 out of 13 ... Okay, how bout I win, no matter what the people say ... how bout that?

[Stillhere29]

You think WRONG B**CH!

Obma 2008

[robXdion]

C'mon. Don't feed into the image they want.

[Sioen]

Maybe it really isn't a doofus Obama supporter.

Perhaps "Obma" is some candidate we don't know about who's running!

[lbrillante]

Of course the Clintons feel that they have the right to make and change the rules as they go just as long as they can sell it to a majority of the american people... or some of the american people... well they get some people to agree with them and get them on camera... and you know what I mean...


The DNC is asking to be demolished if it gives Hillary and ground on this and Obama should not give ground either. It will set a precendent. For the sake of inclusion these state delegates should be seated 50/50 with no privilege to change their votes. That allows them to be there and participate in everything but they will not be able to change the presidential race. This is the only fair solution I see.

The elections in Florida and MIchigan are tainted and it seems law suits could erupt in all directions. A judge ruled it unconstitutional for the Michigan election to be ruled unconstitutional.

If the rules committee backs out on its decision now it will never be taken seriously. What candidate would ever trust the rulings again???? Unless they remain completely neutral and follow through with their previous ruling... they set up every candidate to Clinton's benefit and they would be stealing the nomination from Obama ... I don't see any way that they can legally, ethically, or morally back down from their original ruling.

Obama '08

[estevancarlos]

I want another president that doesn't keep their word. Moving goal posts is the American way.