http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/03/22/demdelegates_0323.htmlThere are 186 people in this country who ultimately could select the Democratic presidential nominee.
Most of them do not know they'll soon wield such power. They will be picked by their state parties or by the party's national chairman to be on the Credentials Committee to the Democratic National Convention. It's normally a political reward, but this year the job could seem more like punishment. Four Georgians will be among the chosen.
If the dispute over what to do about Florida and Michigan — whose Democratic primary results have not been recognized by the party — is not settled by the time Democrats gather in August in Denver, the Credentials Committee will probably make the call on what to do about delegates from the rogue states, which defied the party by moving up their primary dates.
The committee could decide whether those delegates are seated at the convention, and to which candidate they are pledged.
The ultimate winner of the nomination could ride on the outcome.
To avoid the prospect of a brokered convention, which many Democrats believe would splinter the party less than three months before the November general election, party leaders in Florida and Michigan have floated several plans for a revote. None has stuck. As of late last week, it did not appear that new votes would be held in either state.
In comes the Credentials Committee. The 186 Democrats that will form the committee will be chosen during the next several months. DNC Chairman Howard Dean appoints 25 of them, which he has already done.
The others are elected by the state parties, based on population. While Georgia gets four, California gets 17. Georgia's four will be chosen by the members of the convention delegation, which won't be finalized until the state convention in May.
If Florida or Michigan Democrats file a challenge to the DNC's decision to strip them of their delegates (a near certainty), the challenge will be heard by the Credentials Committee. The committee probably will meet in July and consider the challenge at that time. The committee would have great leeway to settle the dispute.
According to the DNC, the committee could:
• Uphold the sanctions and bar all the delegates;
• Allow all of them to be seated; or
• Create some kind of hybrid where half the delegates get to attend.
The committee could also decide how many of each state's delegates get awarded to which candidate.
Even then, it's not over.
On the first day of the convention, Aug. 25, the Credentials Committee presents its report to the seated convention delegates. The report, which will contain the decision on Florida and Michigan, must be approved by the delegates — including all the superdelegates.
Get to know the credentials committee. This 186 member group will ultimately decide who our nominee is. For those who aren't familiar with the how the group works, the 186 members of the credential committee will evaluate which delegates should be seated. The pledged delegates from 48 states are a given to be seated. Whether the other 2 state's delegates, Florida and Michigan, are ultimately seated will determine who the nominee is. For those who are hoping to have this nomination sewn up by the first week of June, you will be sorely dissapointed. The credentials committee, with a vote from the superdelegates, will have the final say on whom is nominated, and they will convene and make their decision in Late August at the convention. Obama will not get away with reaching the 2025 threshold through backroom deals without the credentials committee having a say. Get ready for a long two months after the final primaries end. Hillary has every right to take this to the convention and let the credentials committee have the final say.
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