Five months ago when the GOP and the Democratic National Committee punished a number of states for moving their primaries to an earlier date without approval, no major candidates strongly protested the decision.
The democratic party approved earlier primaries and caucuses for New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada but stripped all delegates in the 2008 primaries from Michigan and Florida because they moved their primary dates without the approval of the national party.
The GOP opted instead to cut delegates in half from five states that held early contests: New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida were all penalized.
Iowa and Nevada were not penalized by the Republicans because they technically do not award delegates at their caucuses.
Now that Hillary Clinton has won both Michigan and Florida in convincing fashion, she is beginning to weigh the possibility of pushing to have the states' delegates added to her total, a move that could prove to be a deciding factor in the primary elections.
"I know other campaigns have tried to downplay the significance of these two states," Clinton said last week to SC reporters. "I think that is not a good strategy for Democrats or any of us who cares about the outcome of this election."
If successful in overturning the party's decision, she would pick up 185 delegates from Florida and 78 from Michigan; nearly 13 percent of the total needed to pick up the democratic nomination.
African-Americans will feel that they've been shut out of the party, and that will have huge repercussions--not just at the presidential level. Tad Devine, Democratic strategist
While many Democratic leaders have mentioned that the eventual nominee, whether it be Clinton or Obama, will likely attempt to reinstate the delegates before the convention to promote party unity heading into the general election.
However, if both candidates are still in the race and the competition is tight heading into the convention, the racial ramifications of turning the delegates over to Hillary could be devestating to the Democrats.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Tad Devine, an expert on the Democratic Party's nominating process said that African-Americans "will feel that they've been shut out of the party, and that will have huge repercussions -- not just at the presidential level, but in every race where African-American support can determine the outcome."
Such a potential negative reactions from the African-American community should be motivation enough for the democrats to stand by their original decision, though Clinton may have the pull to overturn the prior ruling.
With racial tensions and concerns of setting a poor precedent, democrats should tread carefully when deciding how to handle the situation.
As of now, Obama and Clinton both feel confident that they will be victorious by a significant enough margin that the states will not be a deciding factor. With Super Tuesday just around the corner, anything is possible.
Comments
Marc commented, on February 3, 2008 at 4:31 p.m.:
What about the voters of Florida and Michigan who have been disinfranchised by not being allowed a voice at the Democratic National Convention? We must do what's right for the voters, and that includes all the voters of these two states. Not to seat these delegates before the nomination process is concluded is discrimination of the worst kind. I am for doing what is right for the people who voted in good faith and at the very least hoped in the final outcome their votes would make a difference in something please.
Emily commented, on February 4, 2008 at 11:43 p.m.:
Don't you think you think the time to think of this may have been BEFORE the ballots in MI were printed & voters went to the polls? Having an election where there is one name to vote for is like, oh I don't know, voting for Castro. Changing the rules after the game starts - that's disenfranchisement!
KCG commented, on February 7, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.:
Senator Clinton's campaign has chosen to push to change the rules while the Democratic nominating process is already underway.
Her campaign is advocating for the seating of Michigan and Florida delegates after the Democratic National Committee stripped both states of their delegates in response to each state's decision to move up their primary date.
This is not fair!
Sign the petition to stop her initiative, which will only serve to tear the party apart.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Give-Us...
Sinead in Ireland commented, on February 8, 2008 at 8:55 p.m.:
You have to count the votes...........full stop!
People voted and they have to be counted.
NObama cannot ignore two states. He must not be allowed to pull a "Bush" and throw out Floridas votes AGAIN!
COUNT THEM ALL
IRISH 4 HILLARY 2008
Sinead in Ireland commented, on February 8, 2008 at 8:57 p.m.:
to KCG
Sorry to tell you but Hillary is not breaking any rules in attempting to do this. Read how the convention works, she is within her rights to do so
HILLARY 08
NObama
Nick commented, on February 10, 2008 at 1:26 a.m.:
If we really want all the peoples votes to count then you have to address 3 problems:
1. Redo Michigan because you can't seat delegates for an election that took place for only one candidate.
2. Seat Florida's vote as it was taken.
3. Eliminate Super Delegates. Super delegates are not voted by the people. It's just a way for the party to influence the outcome of the people's vote.
It is possible for a candidate to win the peoples votes and then lose the nomination because of Super Delegates. What is the point of voting if that happens?
The two biggest special interest groups in the United States are the Republican and Democrat Parties. They just aren't happy letting the people decide who our elected officials are unless we agree with them.