Michigan and Florida Delegates

June 3, 2008: In a remarkable compromise worked out by the Democratic bylaw and rules committee on Saturday, 31st May, the states of Michigan and Florida were allowed delegates at half the strength. It took the entire day for the committee to come to a decision regarding the status of Michigan and Florida delegates. Both the states were stripped of their right to offer delegates at the Party Convention, as they held their Primaries earlier to the Party schedule.

The Democratic Party officials did not want to disenfranchise the voters, but at the same time wanted to emphasize the seriousness of the Party Schedule; and successfully arrived at the compromise. This decision was a big boost to the chances of Illinois Senator Barack Obama, as he gained 59 delegates from Michigan, despite not competing in the state. Sen. Hillary Clinton expectedly gained 24.5 net delegates from this move.

According to the decisions of the Party committee, Clinton won 52.5 delegate votes from Florida, and Obama got 33.5 delegates. John Edwards, who has already pledged to back Obama, has secured the support of 6.5 delegates.

In Michigan, Clinton won the support of 69 delegates, while Obama won 59 of them. Clinton supporters have complained over the delegate distribution from this state, asserting that a fair distribution would have resulted in 73 delegates for Clinton and 55 undecided delegates. The committee has decided to offer four delegates to Obama on the basis of the write-in votes.

With a lead of 175 delegates over Sen. Clinton, Sen. Obama is believed to be well within the sight of the Democratic candidature. With Primaries left in three more states and chances for any one candidate to win the absolute delegate majority remaining slim, the onus now lies on the 300 odd superdelegates to arrive at a decision before the Party Convention.

The Democratic Party officials have asked the superdelegates to state their positions as soon as possible. The result of the long nomination run may well be over within a week. Clinton is the favorite to win the Puerto Rico Primary, while Obama is most likely to win both Dakota and Montana.