2008 Woodie Awards
Michigan Democratic redo vote collapses
By: Maria Spicketts
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: News
A week ago, Bill Ballenger said it was "unlikely" a Michigan primary redo would take place.
Today, he was proven right.
"You can just say, 'I told you so," said Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics and the former Central Michigan University Griffin Endowed Chair.
The Michigan Senate adjourned Thursday for a two-week spring recess without an agreement about a redo Michigan primary.
Thursday was considered by many experts to be the last chance for a second contest. Sen. Hillary Clinton even made a stop in Detroit on Wednesday to push the issue.
"Instead of giving big speeches on the war, she was in Michigan trying to get delegates seated," said Assistant Political Science Professor Chris Owens.
"That's exactly why - she knew it was coming down to the wire and wanted to give it a final push," he said.
Michigan had an early primary Jan. 15, but violated party rules and was stripped of delegates as a result.
The "do-over" was proposed for June 3, but the national Democratic party, state Democratic party, and candidates were unable to reach a solution.
Liz Kerr, spokeswoman for the Michigan Democratic Party said the chances for a primary are not entirely over, because the convention is not until August.
"We have plenty of time," Kerr said. "We want any resolution that gets our delegates seated and satisfies the candidates."
Clinton did not want a caucus, Ballenger said, and Sen. Barack Obama did not want a redo of the primary.
"The only chance she really has is in a primary, that's what she believes," Ballenger said.
Florida faced a similar situation when it moved its primary to Jan. 29. That state's delegates also are not seated because of the party rules violation.
But Ballenger said both delegations can expect to have a place at the August convention.
"At some point, someone's going to win the nomination before the convention," Ballenger said. "The nominee will say to the Democratic National Committee 'I want these delegates seated,' (and) it won't make any difference how many go to (Clinton) and how many go to Obama. The nominee is going to be decided independent of what happens in the Michigan and Florida votes."
The decision that needs to be made, Owens said, is how to split the delegates without a primary.
"They want Michigan to have a voice," Owens said. "But I don't see how they could seat delegates with the vote that happened before. It's going to be a battle."
In Michigan's Jan. 15 primary, Clinton was the only major candidate who left their name on the ballot. She won with about 55 percent of the vote, and about 40 percent voting "uncommitted." Nationally, Obama has 1,620 delegates and Clinton has 1,471.5 delegates.
This turn of events harms Clinton more than Obama, experts said.
"It makes it hard for Sen. Clinton to catch him," Owens said.
news@cm-life.com
Today, he was proven right.
"You can just say, 'I told you so," said Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics and the former Central Michigan University Griffin Endowed Chair.
The Michigan Senate adjourned Thursday for a two-week spring recess without an agreement about a redo Michigan primary.
Thursday was considered by many experts to be the last chance for a second contest. Sen. Hillary Clinton even made a stop in Detroit on Wednesday to push the issue.
"Instead of giving big speeches on the war, she was in Michigan trying to get delegates seated," said Assistant Political Science Professor Chris Owens.
"That's exactly why - she knew it was coming down to the wire and wanted to give it a final push," he said.
Michigan had an early primary Jan. 15, but violated party rules and was stripped of delegates as a result.
The "do-over" was proposed for June 3, but the national Democratic party, state Democratic party, and candidates were unable to reach a solution.
Liz Kerr, spokeswoman for the Michigan Democratic Party said the chances for a primary are not entirely over, because the convention is not until August.
"We have plenty of time," Kerr said. "We want any resolution that gets our delegates seated and satisfies the candidates."
Clinton did not want a caucus, Ballenger said, and Sen. Barack Obama did not want a redo of the primary.
"The only chance she really has is in a primary, that's what she believes," Ballenger said.
Florida faced a similar situation when it moved its primary to Jan. 29. That state's delegates also are not seated because of the party rules violation.
But Ballenger said both delegations can expect to have a place at the August convention.
"At some point, someone's going to win the nomination before the convention," Ballenger said. "The nominee will say to the Democratic National Committee 'I want these delegates seated,' (and) it won't make any difference how many go to (Clinton) and how many go to Obama. The nominee is going to be decided independent of what happens in the Michigan and Florida votes."
The decision that needs to be made, Owens said, is how to split the delegates without a primary.
"They want Michigan to have a voice," Owens said. "But I don't see how they could seat delegates with the vote that happened before. It's going to be a battle."
In Michigan's Jan. 15 primary, Clinton was the only major candidate who left their name on the ballot. She won with about 55 percent of the vote, and about 40 percent voting "uncommitted." Nationally, Obama has 1,620 delegates and Clinton has 1,471.5 delegates.
This turn of events harms Clinton more than Obama, experts said.
"It makes it hard for Sen. Clinton to catch him," Owens said.
news@cm-life.com
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