It looks like there will be no revote in Florida or Michigan ...

[Alhena]

I watched all the Sunday morning talk shows, each of which discussed the revote scenarios and talked to Dean and Florida and Michigan politicians.

Dean made it clear that the ball was in the states' hands and that they had to submit a plan for the DNC to consider. To even get that far has a lot of obstacles- for example, there is talk that the Florida legislature has to get involved and there are obstacles there, including the opposition of the speaker of the house there. That's why Governor Crist made it clear that his preference is to just seat the delegates that he says were voted on in January. Florida senator Nelson was on one of the shows and he seems like he really is pushing hard for the mail-in vote scenario, but he faces opposition on this score within Florida.

As seen in this article, the leading Democratic proponent (an Obama supporter perhaps not coincidentally) of mail-in voting in Florida is saying that it's a great idea in general but there's no way they can work the kinks out in an entirely new state on such short notice:

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080308/NEWS/803080384/1146

It's a valid point that Oregon tested this system for 15 years before implementing it fully. But even assuming that Florida gets past this internal opposition and submits a mail-in vote plan to the DNC, Dean made it clear this morning that both campaigns would have to feel that they were being treated fairly for the DNC to approve it. And Hillary has made it clear that she won't accept a caucus, so that opens the door for Obama to say he won't accept a particular kind of re-vote, including a mail-in vote. And the above article will give Obama a good basis for rejecting the mail-in vote. So assuming it even gets through the Florida democratic party and to the DNC, it's a pretty safe bet that the mail-in vote plan will be vetoed by Obama. And by the time that happens the clock will have likely run out on doing anything else. So it looks like nothing will happen in Florida.

In Michigan, there looks to be even less political support for a revote. Sen. Levin of Michigan was on this morning, and he indicated that he was doubtful that a revote could be held by June 10. He said that the mail-in vote looked like the best option but that this option had a lot of problems. The Michigan democratic party has also gone on the record as saying that both campaigns would have to approve any re-vote, giving Obama and Hillary veto powers both at the Michigan state level and at the DNC.

I'll be honest as an Obama supporter and say that it's not in our interests to have any re-votes since we are ahead. Obama will control the credentials committee at the convention because of his having more pledged delegates, so that committee will not vote to seat Florida or Michigan if it might change the result. Hillary's strategy will likely to rely on a floor vote on a minority report of the committee- I think only something like 20% of the committee need dissent in order to force a floor vote on seating Michigan and Florida. So I think that's Hillary's plan- rely on a minority report and then a floor vote. I think that's a decent plan with regard to Florida because she does have an argument with the vote there, but even her own supporter Gov. Rendell of PA said today that there was no argument in favor of seating Michigan. So Michigan will not be seated, barring a revote. That's not really unfair, though considering that Obama was not on the ballot there and polls show them tied in that state.

[jaxx]

1. If HRC was worried about Fla and Mich she should have said something from the go.

To want to change the rules now is the biggest flip-flop of her career. You look like a whiner Hillary........it isn't becoming.

[mucifer]

2. That's horrible. People need to be able to vote.

I'm an Obama supporter and I think even if Hillary wins in Fla and Michigan we need to have the mail in vote or something like it because it's just not right not to allow people the right to vote.

[movonne]

6. They can vote in the GE ....

[MichiganVote]

3. In public they all talk tough, in private, they're all negotiating....

[musiclawyer]

4. Voters in these states should blame their legislatures

Not the DNC and Dean. Period
I feel bad for the voters, but they got screwed and any fix has to be FAIR--something HRC does not want.

[musiclawyer]

5. Voters in these states should blame their legislatures

Not the DNC and Dean. Period
I feel bad for the voters, but they got screwed and any fix has to be FAIR--something HRC does not want.

[mucifer]

7. No every state needs to have people voting in the primary AND

the general election. It's too important.

[MichiganVote]

9. Great, more facism...why am I not surprised...

[Kokonoe]

8. Anything that happens will result in a close tie.

I think it would be better if Hillary veto any solution, politicize it to the max, and say those voters are disenfranchised against their civil rights. And launch an independent campaign with Joe Lieberman. we can elect the real democrat, Barack Obama.

[loveangelc]

10. Can someone expain what it means to be over the "credentials committee"?

I heard that Obama will be over the credentials comm. Is whoever wins the most pledged delegates over the credentials committee? And what is the credentials committee????

[loveangelc]

11. ..