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Michigan Do-Over Primary 'Dead'

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March 20, 2008 6:22 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Talal Al-Khatib Report: Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., path to the Democratic presidential nomination grew tougher on Thursday as Michigan's Legislature adjourned without approving a re-vote.

"What I can tell you is that the idea of a state-run, privately funded primary is dead," said Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm who is supporting Clinton.

The former first lady was hoping to find support for a privately-financed, state-run primary because the state's governor and legislative leaders had ruled out the possibility of using state taxpayer money to hold a second Democratic primary.

Now that the Michigan House and Senate have adjourned without approving a do-over Democratic primary, Clinton's circle of advisers are hoping that an agreement can be reached to hold a party-run mail-in ballot that would not require legislative approval.

It's hard, however, to see this approach being adopted.

"I don't know logistically how it is possible," said Michigan Democratic Party spokeswoman Liz Kerr.

The Michigan Democratic Party has not definitively ruled out a party-run mail-in vote. But Kerr said the state party would find it very difficult to manage any kind of party-run contest regardless of whether it is a mail-in vote or a "firehouse primary" in which voters go in-person to party-run polling locations.

"Logistically, a mail-in ballot presents the same obstacles that it did when we started talking about it two weeks ago," said Kerr. "Three million pieces of paper is a lot to manage. We are state party, not a government body whose sole purpose is to administer elections."

A further obstacle facing Clinton is that the Michigan Democratic Party is not going to approve any re-vote plan that does not have the support of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. As the overall delegate leader nationally, Obama's campaign has shown little interest behind the scenes in reaching an accommodation.
"It's very clear to me that they perceive a re-do as not beneficial to them," said Matt Marsden, spokesman to Michigan Republican Leader Mike Bishop. "So without coming right out and saying it," he added, referring to Obama's Democratic allies in Michigan's Legislature. "They did everything in their power to avoid that contingency."

March 20, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (533)

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It's the party's fault. If they wanted to break the rules and become irrelivant and disenfranchise the will of the voters, they shouldn't of gone against the rules. However, don't fret yet, I'm sure Hilliary's pals at the DNC will find a way to give her what she wants anyway. Since when have rules ever stood in the way of the Democrat party, or the Clintons???

Posted by: cba | Mar 20, 2008 7:11:18 PM

Um steal what?? Clinton supports a redo Primary in both states. how is that stealing anything??


Obama has been given his chance. He rejected it. Now it is up to the delegates at convention.

Obama can argue his case to not seat the delegates,which will end his political career, or the delegates will be seated.

He is trying to get to cenventionwith enough of a delegate spread so that it wont matter. Unfortunately for him that doesnt look like its going to happen.

But it is the hand he is playing. He is bluffing.

Call his bluff Hillary!

Take it to the floor!

Posted by: s.b. | Mar 20, 2008 7:14:28 PM

I can handle a President McCain but I cannot a President Obama and I expect you Obama lot feel the same of Clinton. Take it to the floor Hillary!

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 20, 2008 7:15:08 PM

No one in ANY state is allowed to vote twice. It's against the law and is fraud. I believe it is a felony crime.

Obama asking to let people vote twice and have their votes count in both the democratic and republican primaries is asking for people to be able to commit a felony, voting fraud.

Not surprising given his campaigns documented caucus behaviour, but not something the DNC could ever sanction legally.

Take it to the floor Hill!

Posted by: s.b. | Mar 20, 2008 7:18:12 PM

Unfortunately for Obama, the Republicans nominated McCain, the least offensive of the Repubs and one who does not frighten Democrats like Romney or Huckabee would have. Therefore Democratic voters like me, who have never voted Republican in our lives, will very seriously consider voting for McCain after Obama's trashing of both America and the right of 2 states to vote. I dislike McCain far less than I do Obama.

Posted by: LAGuy | Mar 20, 2008 7:18:42 PM

DavidE-Wright David Clinton played the race card? Who gave the race speech and then threw HIS grandmother under the bus? How many times can Obama run over his grandmother in a week? Answer: Two . . . so far.

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 20, 2008 7:19:15 PM

Obama & DNC: 'Yes, we CAN'T!'
Take it to the floor, Senator Clinton!

Posted by: laurie | Mar 20, 2008 7:21:32 PM

Shame on the DNC, shame on the candidate. The democrat didn't deserve to win the election.
I don't like the republican party and ready to hand my vote to the democrat. My guest is that they are not ready. I got to give it to McCain. At least, he have my respect.

Posted by: maleasiansmoker | Mar 20, 2008 7:22:11 PM

I agree Dogsoldier -- watching Obama stand up before America and call his supposedly beloved grandmother a racist for his own political gain, was one of the most offensive things I have ever witnessed.

Posted by: LAGuy | Mar 20, 2008 7:22:38 PM

Obama is a bloody LIAR!
He said it was up to the DNC to decide but that was a lie! It is up to HIM.
His people and him are blocking the votes of MI and FL. I can not believe this!
What if this happened in South Carolina or Louisiana???????
Obama is a fraud and he is disenfranchising voters!

Posted by: Kurt | Mar 20, 2008 7:22:49 PM

Really enough of this.

Let the campaigns make their case in front of the American people and then let the delegates at the convention decide.

If the democratic party is unwilling to seat 8% of the democratic electorate at it's convention, then it will no doubt lose the election, as it should.

There are no more solutions. No one can unelect delegates overruling the voters of MI and FL, with some arbitrary apportionment of delegates.

Either the delegations are seated as is or they aren't.

Take it to the floor! Call his bluff Hill!

Posted by: s.b. | Mar 20, 2008 7:25:10 PM

During the campaign Obama will tell the voters of Michigan and Florida his racist grannie made him do it!

Posted by: LAGuy | Mar 20, 2008 7:25:12 PM

Bye..bye Hillariosly

Posted by: DavidE | Mar 20, 2008 7:25:46 PM

Bye..bye Hillariosly

Posted by: DavidE | Mar 20, 2008 7:25:53 PM

So Obama doesn't believe in the democracy on which American is founded then? Obviously not. No way is he the future of the democratic party: he is the death of it as far as the 2008 Election is concerned. He can wheel and deal with Rezko but for him to play with the right of ordinary American people to express their vote absolutely stinks. And people want this man to be President: you must be joking!

Posted by: Overland Trail | Mar 20, 2008 7:26:02 PM

1. Everyone is bashing Obama on this issue, but what would Clinton do if she had a small lead and Obama was wanting a redo in big states that broke party rules that he had won? I don't see any difference between them in this situation. They are both doing what favors them. 2.Why do the candidates get to decide if there is a redo? This is a disagreement between the national party and the state party. As long as they don't change the rules set at the start, I don't see why the candidates have a say.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | Mar 20, 2008 7:27:08 PM

As Chicago one sang..."She's gone..oh I...oh I...I'd pay the devil to replace her...she's gowne...."

Posted by: DavidE | Mar 20, 2008 7:27:10 PM

Obamaall theway-Do you even know what NAFTA is? OK. Then explain it to me.

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 20, 2008 7:27:50 PM

LAGuy-Honestly, Obama throwing his grandmother under the bus is the ONE thing that stood out in my mind the day after Obama's race speech and it really angered me.

Posted by: Dogsoldier | Mar 20, 2008 7:29:36 PM

Obama did not cause this mess!!!The DNC are morons, do we really need more morons in government???I think they all stink!!!

Posted by: david | Mar 20, 2008 7:30:44 PM

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