Is Obama blocking a delegate deal or Clinton?

Frankly we can't really tell because it's often tough to tell who speaks for whom. Officially the Clinton camp position is "count every vote in FL," and officially the Obama camp position is, "We'll talk, but a fair solution would be divide the delegates evenly."

Meanwhile, Clinton supporters like Bill Nelson say the DNC should divide the Florida delegation in half - net Clinton 19 delegates - while prominent Obama supporters in Florida are talking about a deal that might perhaps net Clinton 6 or 13 delegates. Except they say the Clinton campaign won't budge from fully counting and seating the delegation based on Jan. 29, to net 38.

Chairman Dean I know has asked both sides to come together and we've said, "Where and when,' " said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, an Obama backer. "And the next thing I hear (from the Clinton campaign) is, "We're not interested.' "

Then again, uncommitted DNC member Jon Ausman, who has two credible challenges pending before the DNC's rules and bylaws committee, says the Clinton team seems eager for a deal while Obama is stalling.

Note that the Clinton campaign put out a statement calling on the rules and bylaws committee to resolve this, and the RBC would be the vehicle to resolve it sooner rather than later.

Comments

Count Florida’s votes as votes, split Florida’s Delegates 50/50, discount Michigan’s inequitable votes completely, split Michigan’s Delegates 50/50, fire Howierd Dunce, kick Thurmadrunk (GOP Consultant) to the curb, and vote every incumbent out of office.

Problem Solved!

Next time the Democrats should let the Republicans run their primary.

[Christian Prophet]

Politics! It's enough to create a world of pain, sickness and suffering. See "Abolishing Socialist Slavery"
http://christianprophecy.blogspot.com/

[Jason]

Obama should just drop out
He was here to raise money today.
Count Florida's dollars but not their vote.
He has a hell of alot of nerve to think for a second that if he gets the nomination that we will vote for him.

Wright is wrong
Obama is wrong
The voters were right

That Congressman in Boca is a joke too! He's up for re-election right?

[Pelope R]

DROP OUT OBAMA
YOU ARE BEHIND WAY BEHIND IN

Experience
The Voters
The States that can be won by a Democrat
OH yeah you are racist & antisemetic?

Have made your date with the president of Iran yet?

Obama: I am so excited what are we going to talk about

President: hmm how about your guy Rev.Wright...smart man we think alike!

Drop out Hillary!

You're behind in everyth... WHOA; DUCK!

Whooo, that was close sniper fire wasn't it?

"Next time the Democrats should let the Republicans run their primary."

Ummmmm... HELLO... we have a Republicon consultant for a State Party Leader...

geeeeez, no wonder they call us Floriduuuuh!

*ALERT: RECENTLY UNCOVERED-BARACK OBAMA'S FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH ADMITTED TERRORIST BILL AYERS.

(AYERS HELPED BOMBED THE US CAPITOL & THE PENTAGON AND SHOULD BE IN THE U.S. SUPERMAX PRISON.)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8630.html

Check AYER'S mugshot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers

[Herb]

Rep. Castor is more interested in pushing the interests of Sen. Obama then representing the voters of the state.

PS - How can Castor say that the votes don't count but she is supporting Obama because the voters in her districted voted for him in January.

[Gone Baby Gone]

Newsflash: Obama tickets are gone
Prescript: try a Google search on "Clinton tickets gone"

Herb, methinks you misrepresent Rep. Castor. Maybe she could say even in the election that wasn't supposed to be counted, Sen. Obama won in her district, which I'm guessing is a rarity.

And I'll just point out that Sen. Clinton was more interested in the interests of Iowa and N.H. when she signed on to not counting Fla. and Michigan. Now that you factor into the only path to the nomination for her, it's time to count every vote.

And Hillary doesn't want a compromise. She doesn't want delegates seated (remember that early option, that the delegates would be seated but not counted toward the nomination?)
She needs to be an ADVOCATE for Florida, poor Florida, otherwise she has absolutely nothing to talk about in Denver and no reason to be in the race.

That said, Florida's delegates should be seated and 50/50 sounds right as you shouldn't count the results of a race not run.

[McCain tickets gone?]

My bad...this google search turns up Obama tickets gone, too.

[John Hummel]

I'm trying to figure out how this is either candidates responsibility or blame. Obama has said that he will abide by whatever the Florida DNC and the national DNC decides. He has no legal power to make a revote or delegate split happen - then again, Senator Clinton certainly can't claim she deserves anything, since there wasn't really a vote (since everyone "knew" it didn't count), so she must abide by the rules as well.

Personally, I agree with some of hte above - split the delegate vote 50/50, and be done with it. The election didn't count, and a revote would be too expensive.

[TicketMaster]

Hundreds wait for Obama tickets
By KEITH ROYSDON
kroysdon@muncie.gannett.com

MUNCIE -- As local supporters distributed tickets for Barack Obama's Saturday appearance in Muncie, authorities began preparing for the city's second Democratic presidential candidate in as many weeks.

Hundreds of people stood in line for hours Wednesday afternoon waiting for tickets to Saturday's Obama appearance, set for 9:45 a.m. in Irving Gym at Ball State University. Doors for the event open at 7:45 a.m. Saturday. While tickets were free, Obama's campaign has said it will limit entry to those who obtained tickets.

Count Florida’s votes as votes, split Florida’s Delegates 50/50, discount Michigan’s inequitable votes completely, split Michigan’s Delegates 50/50, fire Howierd Dunce, kick Thurmadrunk (GOP Consultant) to the curb, and vote every incumbent out of office.

Problem Solved!

[Samantha]

Sounds as though Sen Bill Nelson is finally starting to think about the people of Florida. And as elder Statesman, he does have a major say.

Meanwhile, Clinton supporters like Bill Nelson say the DNC should divide the Florida delegation in half - net Clinton 19 delegates ...

The Clinton campaign is keeping this afloat - "all or nothing" attitude because she really wants to see McCain as president in 2009 so she can try to run again in 2012. She knows she's lost and now - she'll throw the country and the Dem party aside to see to her personal goals. Touche' Hillary - no go.

[Warren]

9:30 - but you see, the problem is that HRC is not satisfied with this "nonstory" going away. She's got to keep Florida Democrats divided - it's her goal to kill the Democratic party.

Hillary knows that she's lost the Nomination, but she's not getting out to help the party, nor the country start moving in the correct direction. No. It's all about Hillary and her wants, not you and I. Remember, Hillary didn't give a fig leaf about Florida or Michigan until after Tsnumi Tuesday.

[Thelma]

Hey Herb - Castor's district went Obama - she does represent her people - and proof positive, Castor is ready for CHANGE, real change in DC and the governing.

Maybe Castor's tired of lobbyists being in control of OUR (yours, mine, your neighbors, my neighbors) tax payer $$$ going to special interests, or at least Columbia! huh?

Of course we know where the folks with Hillary want jobs to be sent - Bill and her top advisor- Mark Penn- Columbia. I really like the quality of clothes made in Columbia, don't you? Oh yeah, Columbia only sells to WalMart - Hillary's old stomping grounds. How many unions are organized at WalMarts around this nation? NONE.

[Myth Buster]

"MYTH: Florida and Michigan are victims and their votes don't count because of something Barack Obama did. This is a completely ridiculous lie.

- First of all, Florida and Michigan's votes don't count because they broke the rules.

- Second of all, Barack Obama has absolutely nothing to do with whether the states will hold new votes. Obama is a Senator from Illinois, nothing more. He has no power over entire states to determine whether they hold new voting contests or not. Neither does Clinton.

- Third, the notion that Clinton winning FL and MI's "votes" somehow means something is completely ridiculous. Clinton entered the race with a huge name advantage. Everyone knew her and Democrats associated her with the prosperity of the Clinton years. Thus, she automatically started out with an advantage in every state. That is where campaigning comes in. Obama was able to win Iowa because he was able to spend enough time there to level the playing field."

http://www.411mania.com/politics/columns/72879

[PresObamaIsOurKennedy]

how is this even an issue? obama has it

it's McSame vs Obama and I wonder who will win....lol....

[Anon]

i agree with 11:41 (despite the stupid screen name)...it's over and Obama will get the nomination

[Franklin]

Where ever Obama campaigns, he gains support quickly. Just look at Pennsylvania. Obama was 20 points down, now it's only 6 points w/ two weeks to go.

Obama didn't campaign in Florida and is the "new kid" on the block, not being known compared to Hillary who was First Lady for eight years.

Also, the property tax reducing Amendment One was on the Jan. 29th ballot which brought out property owners who tend to be older.

Many young and minority Democrats who don't own property were not motivated to vote on Jan 29th (two of Obama's strongest demographic groups).

The bottom line is Hillary & Obama agreed not to campaign in Florida and the DNC ruled the Florida primary would not count.

Now that Hillary needs these delegates to get closer to Obama(but still be behind)she's changed her position.

The Florida delegation should be seated in Denver according to a formula that does not give advantage to either candidate, since Florida violated the DNC rules and the DNC ruled the primary would not count, and both Hillary and Obama agreed not to campaign in Florida.

[Franklin]

The 50/50 split is the only way to resolve the Michigan and Florida mess on delegates.

This way the two states' delegates are seated in Denver.

Maybe these two states will think twice in the future before defying the rules of both political parties. Their State legislatures caused this mess in the first place.

Obama does not want FL or MI to count because he would likely lose the popular vote and the nomination.

Obama is a fraud & a racist

[BigJim]

Hillary only got 50% in Florida, and she only got 50% in Michigan even being the only candidate on the ballot. Before the election, she signed the same Pledge that Obama signed not to campaign in Florida, but she didn't have her name taken off the ballot in Michigan like Obama did because she was hedging her bets. Does anyone really think that Hillary would be taking the "count every vote" position if Obama had won either of these non-contests? Of course not, she'd be saying that the Rules were made and broken and accusing Obama of breaking his Pledge if he said anything different. But do you think Obama would still take the position that the DNC rules should govern even if he had won? Actually, yes I do. Obama is for real. Hillary is an opportunist.