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THE DELEGATE QUESTION.
Paul Starr considers what to do about the Florida and Michigan delegates:
If the contest for the Democratic nomination continues to be close, there is a risk that the decisive issue will be a procedural question--the seating of the 366 delegates from Michigan and Florida at the Democratic Convention--and that whichever side loses, the nomination may be regarded as illegitimate.But unlike 2000, this year the Democratic Party itself--the Democratic National Committee, the two state parties in Michigan and Florida, and representatives of the Clinton and Obama campaigns--could negotiate a resolution to avert damage to the eventual party ticket. The resolution might include a round of caucuses in both states in early June to choose delegates whom the national party and all sides could accept as fairly chosen. And, if the race goes that far, those caucuses could tip the nomination one way or the other.
Read the rest, and comment, here.
--The Editors
COMMENTS (5)
An excellent idea. If the Michigan and Florida party organizations refuse to do it, none of their delegates should be seated. And if the voters in those states don't like it, let them take it out on their party leaders rather than on the eventual presidential ticket.
Posted by: Henderstock | January 29, 2008 2:32 PM
Just a question: Do delegate names
appear on the Florida ballot? If not,
how does Mrs. Clinton suggest that
they should be chosen--does she want
to appoint the whole Florida delegation?zkqpps
Posted by: Shane Mage | January 29, 2008 4:45 PM
Yes, I believe all delegates who have not officially dropped out (i.e. requested their names be removed) appear on the ballots. This is different than Michigan where Obama and Edwards had their names removed.
I still think it's cheap of the Clinton campaign to try and seat them, she should have taken this up last year when the decision was made to discount the FL delegates.
Posted by: Fred F. | January 29, 2008 8:33 PM
Four points need to be made.
1) Each state party has rules for how delegates are selected. In many states, the delegates are selected in party meetings after the primary. The rules in Florida and Michigan are not that different and the candidates do not appoint the delegates.
2) The option suggested by Mr. Starr was available to Michigan and Florida last fall. They felt that a primary was a more open and public process and would give greater input to average Democrats. The option chosen by the state parties was fair to the candidates. It just put them in conflict with the national party.
3) On this issue, the Republicans had the better solution. The Republicans cut the delegations in half and eliminated the superdelegate slots.
4) Contrary to suggestions, this issue has not yet been decided. The rules of both parties note that the National Committee runs the party between the Conventions. During the Convention, the Convention runs the party. Rules and credential fights have taken place at previous conventions. The National Committee wanted to protect the primacy of Iowa and New Hampshire. There is no guarantee that the Convention will feel the same way.
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