Clinton Camp To Step Up Efforts To Count Michigan, Florida

The NY Time's Adam Nagourney writes about Hillary Clinton's dwindling chances and hopes for a final rescue after Tuesday night's vote tallies in North Carolina and Indiana.

Nagourney points out that the Clinton camp will ratchet up it's already aggressive attempts to have the results for Florida and Michigan - states both candidates didn't campaign in, but Clinton "won" - to be counted. HuffPost's Tom Edsall wrote Sunday about how the Clinton camp planned to carry out the "nuclear option" to get the Michigan and Florida votes counted.

With few states left, she and her aides said they would step up their efforts to count the disputed results in Florida and Michigan, where the states held contests in defiance of Democratic Party rules. If Mrs. Clinton can win the battle to have the delegations from those two states seated at the conventions on the basis of the vote there, she could greatly reduce Mr. Obama's lead in pledged delegates.

But neither candidate actively campaigned in Florida or Michigan, and Mr. Obama did not appear on the Michigan ballot.

Still, in a sign of where the Clinton campaign is going, her aides are asserting that the winner will need 2,209 delegates, not 2,025. That higher number reflects the full inclusion of Florida and Michigan, which held their primaries before the date permitted by the Democratic Party.

Comments

[LonesomeThunderbolt]

An idea from a caller to the Diane Rehm show (probably two months ago) that I've repeated here several times still seems to make sense. The question of Michigan and Florida is not going away. If not resolved, Clinton is going to milk it all the way to the convention. I make this suggestion as an Obama supporter who spent a couple weeks volunteering for him in North Carolina.

The idea was to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates according to the January voting--not as pledged delegates but as super delegates. What's important to Obama is maintaining his lead in pledged delegates. This plan would keep the focus on the pledged delegates while denying Clinton any gain in that arena. Even if most Michigan and Florida delegates personally favored Clinton, they would most likely take their cue from the pledged delegates, then cast their votes as super delegates more or less as a block.

And because the agreement is limited to seating delegates, it would bypass the question of the popular vote in Michigan and Florida. Obama could continue to credibly assert that the popular vote in both states was invalid. In a close election, Florida probably leans to McCain, but Michigan is absolutely essential to a Democratic victory. Obama is in a strong enough position now that he can afford to take a risk that protects electoral votes he has to have in November.

[Valkyrie]

You obviously haven't seen some of the Florida Supers foam at the mouth about going after Obama. They play it all the time on the news over here.

[JonathanDS2U]

What we need from the media is on-the-street interviews with Floridians who didn't vote in the Florida primary because they were told their vote would not count, as well as interviews with Floridians who voted even though they were told their vote would not count. Maybe then it will sink in that the so-called Florida primary was never a REAL vote in any way, shape, or form, not in terms of counting at the Democratic Convention.

[Myshkin57]

I am a Floridian who is sometimes on the streets and there were lots of people I know who did not vote because they were told repeatedly in the news here that it would not count.

[glaze]

THEY'RE GONNA NUKE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA?!?!?
... what?...
WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE HEADLINE SAYS!...
no?...
...oh...
DAMN!

[Valkyrie]

Only if Michigan attacks Florida first. Then Hillary's going after the do-badders.

[olivia]

The Democratic party cannot possibly get any more undisciplined than this.

This is why they get elections stolen from them.

[monty]

It's called DEMOCRACY, honey. Something foreign to Republicans like you.

[RedEyes]

It's called a clusterf*ck.

[Fentwin]

LIVE FREE OR DIEBOLD!!!!!

[bknott]

So if we all get into lockstep like the Republicans, we can steal an election, too? If I were a Republican, I would be rethinking that approach. The president you got with that stolen election has done so badly that the country has done a serious left turn. Principles and progressives!!

[Amhet]

Would you like some cheese with that whine? The "stolen election" line is getting old.

You whine too that the President has "done so badly" that the country has taken a left turn.... For the first 6 years of his Presidency, the country was doing very well, even with fighting a war. Then 2 years ago the party of "democracy" took over the house and senate and we can see the results of that.... economy in a nosedive, housing foreclosures at an alltime high, congressional investigations of everything but harry reids socks, and a multimillion dollar plan to turn the Capital "green"...­..

Im really glad that Nancy and Harry have the "most ethical congress" in history. I just cant wait to see the next FDR come along and REALLY screw things up. Oh, and dont even get me started on "principles and progressiv­es"..... the two cannot coexist together.

[steamboat]

How is denying the citizens of Florida and Michigan getting an election stolen?

Listen, the democrats better resolve this or the folks in Michigan very well could teach the party a hard lesson come November. Nobody likes being excluded from the process.

[SaulGood]

then maybe our state party leaders should check themselves. this was not a washington decision, this was our state party leaders decision.

[GingerB]

How are you going to make it up to the people who stayed home because they knew their votes weren't going to count? You want to punish them and reward the rule breakers?

[savethecountry]

And so the fair and good citizens of FL and MI will punish THE REST OF THE NATION by continuing the Bush Imperial Presidency for 4 more years, steamboat? The people you should be teaching "a hard lesson" are the people IN THOSE STATES who decided to flaunt the rules (a classicly Republican thing to do) KNOWING what the consequences would be.

Again, Obama AND Clinton agreed that FL and MI would not count. Again, they both were put in that position because FL and MI party leaders (Dem and/or Repub) decided to shoot the DNC the middle finger.

And those party leaders were put in that position because it's long past the time for this country to change its presidential primary system and institute regional primaries, alternating each presidential election cycle (for example, the Northeast would vote first in 2012, the Southeast in 2016, the Midwest in 2020, and the West in 2024). Have the first regional primary in January, the second in February, the third in March and the fourth in April, putting at least 30 days between each primary. The primary campaign season would then end by May 1. Move up the party conventions to June. Then we'd have more time to examine the final two candidates.

Yes, it's rough. But let's start talking about alternatives to a system that is clearly broken.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

From Terry McAuliffe's book:

"I'm going outside the primary window," [Michigan Sen. Carl Levin] told me definitively.

"If I allow you to do that, the whole system collapses," I said. "We will have chaos. I let you make your case to the DNC, and we voted unanimously and you lost."

He kept insisting that they were going to move up Michigan on their own, even though if they did that, they would lose half their delegates. By that point Carl and I were leaning toward each other over a table in the middle of the room, shouting and dropping the occasional expletive.

"You won't deny us seats at the convention," he said.

"Carl, take it to the bank," I said. "They will not get a credential. The closest they'll get to Boston will be watching it on television. I will not let you break this entire nominating process for one state. The rules are the rules. If you want to call my bluff, Carl, you go ahead and do it."

We glared at each other some more, but there was nothing much left to say. I was holding all the cards and Levin knew it.

[Source: McAuliffe, Terry. What A Party!, p. 325.]

[bigironal25]

I have supported Mr. Levin from day one , but ,not anymore. When he is up for re-election I will vote for WHOEVER runs against him!

[LeeinJax]

BRILLIANTLY on point!

I wonder, do they ever stop to listen to themselves?

[BearsGrl8]

On Senator Levin's behalf: "I'm calling your bluff!"

The DNC has said that after all this mess, MI and FL will be seated in Denver, though it may be in a compromised position. As a MI Democrat, I am not thrilled to have a compromised representation, but if anyone thinks that the DNC would so intentionally disenfranchise two big states in such an important election year, they are sorely mistaken.

I am not defending the decision to change the primary date - I was against it to begin with - but it happened and we move on.

[steamboat]

And you shouldn't be compromised representation. That is UNDEMOCRATIC. And to punish ALL citizens of Michigan because one or two people moved up a primary date is bogus.

[mikatollah]

No one has disenfranchised the Democratic voters in Florida or Michigan. They held an election where eligible voters were allowed to cast their ballots.

Now if they want the results to count in the Democratic primary they need to play by the rules… just like the 48 other states who played fair. If they are upset by their votes not counting, they should take it up with their elected representatives.

[rcpmac]

This is going nowhere. . It is painting a fantasy path to nomination that will encourage supporters to continue making donations and bail the Clintons out of their $11 million loan to the campaign.

The party will stop it in it's tracks

[abby4ever]

When? And how? They have been impotent thus far.

[simplecitizen]

Florida & Michigan will be seated but Clinton has no leverage to decide how. She won't be calling the shots and the super delegates will not dare risk their political futures or reputations on helping her in any way. Obama has all the chips in the game and Hillary is bankrupt both literally and actually. It must be terrible to have lost control after havivg the whole political world bowing down to you. The Clinton monarchy has been dethrowned.

[drea31]

This is all about money she knows she has lost, but she wants her 11 million back. She doesn’t care about FL or MI this is all a ploy. And now everyone see’s it.
But my question is to all of my fellow Obama Donors, last night MSNBC Tim, Keith, and Chris were talking about Obama maybe cutting a deal with her to drop out by covering her debit. Now I’m a donor I think I’m at $1,785.00 now and I would not be happy if he had to pay her debit. I will still donate, volunteer, and everything else. But she tried to really undermine his campaign and she can not be trusted. I maybe over reacting, or even being a little selfish, I would like to get some of your thoughts on this. So maybe I can start looking at it differently. Thanks

[abby4ever]

Me, I wouldn't trust her to get out even with Obama covering her debit. And as for him doing that in the first place, I don't think it would look good at all---it is virtually paying off the competition, which is corruption.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

If this is a measure that will get Obama the nomination and on to the General election then it needs to be concerned. While it is not the ideal way it might be the only way to get Hillary to stop

[housh]

As someone who voted for Obama, I am shocked by the anti-Clinton bias on Huffington Post. It must make the Republicans very happy to see the left carry on the smear campaign that the right started in the 90's. The disdain this site has for the Clintons is very disappointing, especially considering what Bill and Hillary Clinton have done for this country. And the "Nuclear Option" headline is just another nail in the coffin.

[abby4ever]

Read hydenorhare's post, below, for some anti-Obama smear.

[steamboat]

GOOD COMMENTS..­...oh well, so much for 'inclusion' and the 'Big Tent' they always preached.

[Oreva]

what in God's name are you blabbing about richliberal?

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

I`M THE FRIGGIN FAT LADY......­..........­.....AH-HA­-AH-HA-AH-­HA-AH-HA

AND THIS IS MY STAGE.....­..........­..AH-HA-AH­-HA-AH-HA.­........CE­NTRE STAGE.....­.AH-HA-AH-­HA-AH-HA

DA WITCH IS FLYING....­.....AH-HA­-AH-HA-AH-­HA-AH-HA..­..........­DA WITCH IS FLYING....­..........­.....ON

HER BROOMSTICK BROOMSTICK BROOMSTICK­..........­AH-HA-AH-H­A-AH-HA-AH­-HA

TO THE MOON THE MOON AH_HA_AH_HA_AH_HA

THE MOON THE MOON AH_HA_AH_HA_AH_HA



.

[FirstShirt]

ok, ok...you are a fat lady. so what?

[seenitall]

you need to up the milligrams­...

[Oreva]

Obama should pick Mrs Edwards...­she's a centrist Southern female democrat..­....such a move will appeal to women, the South and conservatives

[speakingtruth2power]

Sorry to tell you but she's not healthy, unfortunately!

[steamboat]

And NOT qualified

[steamboat]

PS: My choice is Sen. Webb of Virginia.

Like to hear yours and everybody elses choices?

[BTJ46]

I think it is important to be careful with metaphors. For the Clinton camp to talk about a 'nuclear option' in any sense -- especially after Hillary's dangerous threat to commit genocide by 'obliterating' Iran -- gives me the creeps.

It's 3AM Hillary... time to drop out and help progressives win the White House. The moment is too critical for narcissism.

[CanadianShelley]

The view from North of the border is fascinating. Something for you guys to think about - Canada is one of the few countries fighting in Afghanistan (alongside the US and Britain) that actually patrols Kandahar province where most of the Taliban are located. Our military men and women regularly reach out to Afghanis "beyond the wire". As a result many Canadians have died. Our casualty rate (proportionate to our smaller population) is greater than any other NATO country in Afghanistan. We need your help. So long as America remains in Iraq our young men and women will have to hold the fort in Afghanistan. It is crucial that McCain not win the Fall election. So think about what you say in relation to Obama and Clinton. This isn't just a rousing political fight - the world is watching and is depending on YOU to choose the right person. It is clear now that this person is named Barack Obama.

[speakingtruth2power]

Muslim radicalism must be met with intelligence and firm resolve,

instead of a profiteering & privatization opportunity for the fascists.

[Tee1up]

I used to think that religious freedom should be a core right for every person but over the last few years I have become more and more convinced that Tallibans of any flavor need to be censored if not squashed entirely.

Their very nature has such a huge impact on our youth groups and all too often their mandates run contrary to the freedoms we profess to value.

[bigironal25]

McCrazy won't win in Nov., eh!

[steamboat]

Help is on the way !

The worst commanders ever, besides LBJ, that being Bush and Cheney, have only 6 1/2 months left.

[partyofone]

From this day forward Hillary Clinton's only reasons for remaining in the race for the Democratic nomination are oversized ego and intent to do damage to Obama.

Hillary is qualified on experience, ideas, judgment or leadership. She can't win the presidency just on being married to Bill Clinton, and she can't buy it with her ill-gotten millions.

Now is the time for the party leadership to pull the plug on the mean-spirited, divisive, self-interested Clintons. They lost. It's over. Tell them to GO AWAY!