2008 Woodie Awards
Committee suggests Michigan, Florida hold caucuses
By: Maria Spicketts
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: News
Michigan voters may have another say in the formation of this year's presidential election.
The Democratic National Committee suggested Friday that Michigan and Florida should hold a secondary pre-election vote to break the pending tie between candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The two states broke party rules by moving their primaries before Feb. 5. Only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and New Mexico are allowed to hold their primaries before that date.
Phil McNamara, director of party affairs for the Democratic National Committee, said it is up to the individual states to choose whether or not to redo the primary.
"We want states to comply by the rules," McNamara said. "The door is still open for Michigan and Florida to come forward and get delegates."
If a second election occurs, it will be a caucus and not a primary.
Isabella County Clerk Joyce Swan said this concept was a surprise.
"It's just another expense (for the county)," Swan said.
In contradiction with the national party, the Michigan Democratic Party said Friday that Clinton will receive most of Michigan's 156 delegates after winning 55 percent of the vote after the Jan. 15 primary.
The New York senator will receive 73 pledged delegates, leaving 55 pledged delegates uncommitted after candidates Obama and former Sen. John Edwards removed their names from the Michigan ballot. There are 28 super delegates as well, many of which remain unpledged.
The state was stripped of its delegates after Michigan moved its primary before Feb. 5. However, the Democratic National Committee also said Friday there were no delegates at stake in both Michigan and Florida.
CMU College Democrats President and Freeland junior Matt Sous said a caucus would give Obama supporters a fair chance to cast their ballot.
"It sounds like a good idea," Sous said. "It gives our party a second chance to give Michigan and Florida a say."
McNamara said if Michigan moved its primary after April 1, there also would be bonus delegates up for grabs, which would give the state more of a say at the August convention, where the nominee will be decided.
Excluding Michigan and Florida delegates, 2,025 out of 4,049 delegates are required to get the Democratic nomination.
news@cm-life.com
The Democratic National Committee suggested Friday that Michigan and Florida should hold a secondary pre-election vote to break the pending tie between candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The two states broke party rules by moving their primaries before Feb. 5. Only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and New Mexico are allowed to hold their primaries before that date.
Phil McNamara, director of party affairs for the Democratic National Committee, said it is up to the individual states to choose whether or not to redo the primary.
"We want states to comply by the rules," McNamara said. "The door is still open for Michigan and Florida to come forward and get delegates."
If a second election occurs, it will be a caucus and not a primary.
Isabella County Clerk Joyce Swan said this concept was a surprise.
"It's just another expense (for the county)," Swan said.
In contradiction with the national party, the Michigan Democratic Party said Friday that Clinton will receive most of Michigan's 156 delegates after winning 55 percent of the vote after the Jan. 15 primary.
The New York senator will receive 73 pledged delegates, leaving 55 pledged delegates uncommitted after candidates Obama and former Sen. John Edwards removed their names from the Michigan ballot. There are 28 super delegates as well, many of which remain unpledged.
The state was stripped of its delegates after Michigan moved its primary before Feb. 5. However, the Democratic National Committee also said Friday there were no delegates at stake in both Michigan and Florida.
CMU College Democrats President and Freeland junior Matt Sous said a caucus would give Obama supporters a fair chance to cast their ballot.
"It sounds like a good idea," Sous said. "It gives our party a second chance to give Michigan and Florida a say."
McNamara said if Michigan moved its primary after April 1, there also would be bonus delegates up for grabs, which would give the state more of a say at the August convention, where the nominee will be decided.
Excluding Michigan and Florida delegates, 2,025 out of 4,049 delegates are required to get the Democratic nomination.
news@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Jamin
posted 2/11/08 @ 3:21 PM EST
Voter's(US Citizens)should be the only control(as in Primarys not,cacuses wich are not a true vote)over wich way a deligat or super deligat cast thier vote. (Continued…)
Dixie Slack
posted 2/14/08 @ 2:17 PM EST
I truely feel that a lot of the Democratic voters in Florida and Michigan did not vote because they did not believe it would count. For the Democratic Party to change the rules after the primary would be unfair. (Continued…)
Daulton Williams
posted 2/16/08 @ 11:07 PM EST
No one would have a problem having their vote count if they would have chose the right political party to begin with.
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