Obama backers offer compromise

UPDATE: Team Clinton is vague: "There are a number of different of different proposals being discussed and floated right now, and we will continue to evaluate them,’’ Clinton spokesman Phil Singer told Buzz Saturday. "We’re not going to negotiate this in the press as the Obama campaign seems intent to do."

Prominent Barack Obama supporters are considering compromise plans to ensure Florida Democrats have a voice in the presidential nomination, even leaving open the door for Hillary Rodham Clinton to win more delegates out of Florida than Obama.

Obama allies had long suggested the best Clinton could hope for was a deal to evenly divide Florida's delegates to the nominating convention. Now, though, Sen. Bill Nelson and key players in Congress and on the Democratic National Committee are raising the possibility of allocating a portion of Florida's delegates based on the results of Florida's Jan. 29 primary, which could shrink Obama's overall delegate lead to anywhere from a handful to roughly 20 delegates. Story here.

Michigan will go ahead with a do-over June 3, while Clinton folks meanwhile are threatening to cut off the DNC from Fl checkbooks.

Comments

Why should they be evenly devided?

Hillary won FL by 30 points. And both names were on the ballot, both raised money here prior to Jan. 29th and neither campaigned here.

Sounds to me like the Obama supporters are trying to steal this election!

Now where's Gene Smith, Mr. Obtuse Squint-Eyed Optimism himself, to announce this will all have a happy ending?

I don't get it. The whole point of moving the primary date up was to have a say in persuading later primaries on which candidate is preferred by winning Florida's delegates. I can understand having the votes count but to change the vote count(re-voting) because you don't like the outcome is a little too much. It is nothing more than being a sore loser and cry baby. Go! Hillary! oops... sorry

[Joe]

Why didn't Reopresentative Castor and Wexler show leadership earlier? Do they have to wait to get an OK from the Obama campaign?

Why didn't they try to stop Florida from moving up its primary? Did they have to wait to get an OK from the Obama campaign?

Do they represent their constituents, or only the Obama campaign?

If the Obama camp is talking compromise it would be the stupidest move they have made yet. When you are in the lead and in charge you dont talk "compromise" to the number #2 person. It makes you look weak that you will cave to preassure. That is definitely not presidential. Dont talk anything! The states violated the rules. Move on. All will vote in the general. It would be a tragic mistake for the obama team to send up the white flag to Clinton, it will send a clear message. How stupid politically can you be to even suggest a thing. Let it play itself out and watch from the sidelines and stick to the message, no one campaigned in these states, both signed the pledge the eventual NOMINEE will seat the delegates of both states, but it would disenfranchise both voters in these states and the candidates to change the rules now. GET WITH IT OBAMA PEOPLE. YOu should be more politically sophistiocated by now.

I do not care what Obama will compromise on.

Boy that's nice, he goes from saying "Your vote doesn't count" to "OK, I'll let it count, but I get to say how you voted."

Big deal.

They just keep digging themselves deeper and deeper into that hole.

Why not just say "Every American votes should count, count fully, count equally and American voters shouldn't have to ask permission from party operatives or candidates to get their vote counted,"

In a democracy the voters pick the candidates, the canidates don't decide who the voters are.

Michigan and Florida should not be inlcuded as everyvote d did not count. Voters were explicity told that and many didn't go to the polls. It is the height of stelaing elections to change the rules. I hope if they try to disenfranchise those that did not go to the poll by trying to throw Florida and Michigan in. Multiple civil rights lawsuits will be filed if the democrats are stupid enough to do this. The Clinton camp seems to be taking a play from the George Bush play book in trying to STEAL an election.

1:37 Easy to see right through you.

A record number of Democratic voters turned out to vote on Jan 29. If you were too complacent to participate that is your problem. Do not try to intimidate any of us about law suits - your civil rights were not stepped on because you failed to vote when the opportunity was offered to you.

Hillary won Florida fair and square - it is Obama who is the opportunistic thief.

Al Gore will descend from the clouds to rescue the Democratic party.

only 2 states had higher turnout for Republicans than Democrats. Florida and Michigan. it is total bs that Florida had full participation of Democrats. Clinton only started talking about Florida counting after she got smoked in South Carolina. anyone who is not completely in the tank for the Clintons can see that.

she'll burn the village to "save" it.

In fact, Barrack Obama violated the no campaigning agreement by advertising on CNN in Florida prior to January 29th election. Hillary Clinton should back out of the FL & MI agreement because Obama violated it first.

Obama & Hillary ignored FL in January 29th. Don't come begging for our votes in November!

I will be voting for McCain.

[Jim]

Obama is looking more & more like a radical.

Look at his lunatic minister that was part of his campaign organization and advisors.

Obama is keeping company with lunatics that advocate hate againd the United States of America.

Is Obama a radical in disguise?

obama violated nothing, running national ads on cable means running them in all states there was no choice, they tried to exclude Florida but that was not possible.

Hillary did not win florida fairly, that's like saying we will play cards for fun, but if I win I deserve your chips anyway. All campaigns agreed to the rules, its stupid to try and change them half way though the game.

I say go ahead with the re-vote, it will speed up obama getting 2024 delegates

How do you figure she didn't win Florida fairly?

There was a primary held on Jan. 29. Her name was on the ballot. His name was on the ballot. 1.7 million ( the highest Democratic primary turnout ever in Florida) Democrats turned out to vote. She won by 16% points.

The current polls indicate she would win again if a re-vote is taken.

GO Hillary! Florida is yours!

Obama you lost.
You advertised, you lost
You had fundraiser, you lost
You had Congressman Wexler, you lost
The voters are smarter than the elected officials.

Wake up you have woken us up,
You are only one who is dreaming now

[TiredFred]

No revote
We voted and Obama lost
If you can't handle the voters or a Democrat, how would you ever handle the Republicans?

Oh yeah that is right you would have your Wright hand man at your side to do it for you.

[Gene Smith]

To the heroic anonymous poster at 10:38 AM:

Unlike you I have a life and was doing something else this morning.

"Mr. Obtuse Squint-Eyed Optimism himself"?

Well, optimistic actually, anyway. There are over 4.5 million Democrats in Florida. Only 210 of them will get to go to Denver as elected delegates. So do you think most of those 4.5 million plus Dems really care about this little intra party squabble?

Not really. They worry about being able to pay their mortgage and getting health care for their children. And come November they are NOT going to be voting for a third term for George W Bush, um, er John McCain because of who did or didn't get to go the the big party in Denver.

I am so going to enjoy kicking your a** in November!

"Unlike you I have a life and was doing something else this morning."

I sure hope you were at the gym on the treadmill trying to shed those extra pounds.

[Tim]

I agree. Why didn't Reopresentative Castor and Wexler show leadership earlier? Do they have to wait to get an OK from the Obama campaign?

Why didn't they try to stop Florida from moving up its primary? Did they have to wait to get an OK from the Obama campaign?

Do they represent their constituents, or only the Obama campaign?

It remains that the democrats have failed to show leadership on this, the easiest of issues. How can they hope to convince the American people that they can lead this country during a time of war?

For those who say Obama lost Florida fairly, and get over it: Why can't Hillary accept that it is impossible to overcome Obama's pledged delegate lead?

Since Super Tuesday, Obama has won 14 states, Hillary 3. If Obama had only won 3, the race would be over.

Hillary should concede. Haven't the Clintons done enough damage to the Democratic Party? (See 1994!)

[Joseph]

Joe - why didn't the FDP give notice to the FL registered Democrats about the upcoming vote last year? How difficult did Karen Thurman, Bill Nelson, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz make it for Charlie Crist when signing the bill into law?

Why didn't I hear from Bill Nelson about the upcoming vote? Oh yeah, probably because he was still thinking it was okay to give the telecom companies immunity. huh. Or the approving the Patriot Act. huh.
Can we call a dino a dino? I called his office repeatedly and was told that he was against immunity - and then he voted FOR immunity. All of you Nelson supporters - you call yourselves Democrats? You're just dinos.

Don't get so belligerent, Gene. Given the rifts among the Dems now, the only way McCain could lose in November is if he punches out a nun in October.

Why is Katz a key finance person for Obama when he lobbies both in Tallaassee and Washington. Obama says he is not taking money from lobbyist but allows Katz to play a key role. Explain that. Katz is also not such an altruistic person.

"""" Obama violated nothing, running national ads on cable means running them in all states there was no choice, they tried to exclude Florida but that was not possible."""
If Obama didn't know that he was buying a national ad he should have. To say he tried to exclude Florida exposure after the fact is irresponsible.

The DNC rules stated that 50% of delegates would be lost if the state primary date was changed, just like the republicans. Dean took a bigger bite. To be fair, 50% of the delegates should be seated, as it was stated by the DNC rulebook.

Howard Dean should walk the Connecticut River a jump in.

5:30PM,

Exactly to the point. Obama signed an agreement not to advertise if FL. By buying ads on CNN, he violated the no advertising in FL agreement. Not all bets are off. Clinton should just demand FL delegates be seated.

Jeremiah Wright just ended Obama's bid for the presidency.

I can see the 527 swiftboat attacks now.

Playing the hate-mongering clips and then having Obama saying how much he's influence his life.

Those people who stayed home on Jan. 29th (I doubt if there were that many) because they were told their votes would not count. Have only themselves to blame.

Hillary won FL, FAIR AND SQUARE!

If the DNC or State official take her votes away. Then they should be sued for that.

Jan. 29th had a record turnout of Dem's in a primary election in Florida. So, I don't see how anyone can say not enough voters turned out.

Hillary was polling around 20% points ahead of Obama on the day we voted. And that is about what she won by.

Obama's supporters "Shame on you", for trying to steal Florida from Hillary.

[JD]

Everyone seems to be forgetting that the DNC and RNC broke the rules before the game started. Both sides are out without scoring a point. Time to move on to November.

JD, What "rules" are you talking about?

The state of FL has a right to hold it's sovereign elections any time it desires just like other states.

There are no mythical rules.