Democrats’ Proposal To Re-Do Michigan Primary Founders!
Nedra Pickler must have wept while writing this! ;)
The drive for a second Michigan presidential primary collapsed today, and a fresh dispute broke out between Senators Obama and Clinton over the fate of the state’s 128 national convention delegates.
Mr. Obama’s campaign said a fair resolution would be to split them evenly with Mrs. Clinton. Aides to the former first lady instantly rejected the idea and said they would consider a mail-in primary — even though Mr. Obama has raised concerns about the security of a vote by mail organized so quickly.
Mr. Obama leads the overall competition for convention delegates, and Mrs. Clinton has been leading the effort to hold a revote in Michigan, eager for a chance to close the gap on her rival.
The state held a primary in January, so early in the year that it violated party rules. As a result, it was stripped of its delegates. Mr. Obama and several other Democratic candidates removed their name from the Michigan ballot and all Democratic candidates agreed not to campaign there.
Michigan Democratic leaders had proposed a do-over primary, to be conducted by the state on June 3 with funding by private donors. But lawmakers showed a lack of enthusiasm for a bill authorizing the vote, and state Senate adjourned today without taking it up.
Governor Granholm of Michigan, who has endorsed Clinton, said in a statement that she was deeply disappointed the June 3 do-over was no longer a possibility.
“We will turn our attention to other options,” she said. “There is no road to the White House that does not go through Michigan”
In a joint statement before adjourning for two weeks the Democratic Speaker of the Michigan House, Andy Dillon, and the House floor leader, Rep. Steve Tobocman, said, “Regardless of candidate preference, members had concerns over the estimated 100,000 Michigan Democrats who would have been unable to participate in a do-over election, as well as logistical and legal difficulties faced by local clerks.”[…] see it all.
May Shrill and Hussein both lo