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Obama Backs Florida Compromise
May 31, 2008 9:31 AM
ABC News' Teddy Davis, John Santucci and Gregory Wallace report: On behalf of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., announced Saturday that the Democratic frontrunner is willing to seat all of Florida delegates with half a vote each in order to end the stalemate over how to allocate the state’s delegates.
"This action will involve extra delegates, up to 19 delegates being awarded to Sen. Clinton," Wexler said. "Sen. Obama should be commended for his willingness to offer this extraordinary concession in order to promote reconciliation to Florida voters."
Although Clinton's Florida representative, State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, said, "I want it all" -- meaning a full seating with full voting power -- Clinton's advisers concede in private (and Bill Clinton concedes in this April 29 audio clip) that the former first lady would be satisfied with a full delegate seating with 1/2 vote for each delegate.
Wexler sought to put Obama's Florida position in a magnanimous light, saying that the 19 delegates Clinton would net over Obama from Florida would "actually amount" to the same number of delegates that she netted from her victories in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Clinton received 12 more pledged delegates than Obama in Pennsylvania and seven more pledged delegates than Obama in Ohio.
"Let us unify. Let us move on," Wexler said.
Resolution of Michigan -- where Obama took his name off the ballot -- has thus far proved more elusive.
May 31, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (89)
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This was a foregone conclusion. They will come to some agreement in MI this afternoon, we will have a new number to win the nomination, and this thing will be officially over on Wednesday morning (it was technically over on March 4th).
On to the GE!!!
Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 9:38:36 AM
I agree
The Florida compromise should go through.
Michigan should be split 50/50 or 69/59 delegate split favoring Clinton.
It's only fair to have it as so.
Possibly bias but this would be a win/win for the Obama camp.
Posted by: Vanessa | May 31, 2008 9:39:48 AM
Means he has the nod and she goes home yahoooooooooooooooooooooooI can not wait until this what ever gets her puss out of the TV>>>>>>>She is the poorest excuse for a lady and I have ever seen and I have seen a few....
Posted by: older person | May 31, 2008 9:49:59 AM
It isn't right! A vote is a vote! Not some trumped up half vote.
Hillary '08
Posted by: Krissy K | May 31, 2008 9:50:18 AM
She's lucky they're even discussing this. Remember, it was Terry McAuliffe as head of the DNC that stripped these states of their delegates. It was Hillary Clinton, along with all the other candidates that signed the agreement they would not count.
She's getting her way just by this being discussed. Obama is giving her HUGE concessions here.
In the end, it's not going to matter. Officially it ends on Wednesday.
Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 9:50:37 AM
I've been watching DNC meeting and Wexler did a poor job of representing Obama, and needs to back off the 50% deligate and let the DNC give 100%. You heard the crown yell, answer the question, would Obama support 100% being awarded and he skated all around, but his response was clear. If he holds ground until the vote is taken this afternoon, Obama (which I am a contributor) will lose FL and possibly the whole election once it is spun that he wanted to exclude voters. Get the msg to Obama camp now to have Wexler change is stance asap.
Posted by: Pamela Byrd | May 31, 2008 9:52:55 AM
the voters votes count, for those that are not in full understanding, however the delegates are the ones with a half vote
so if you are a voter in florida and you came out to vote, your vote counted
Posted by: bhrandon | May 31, 2008 9:56:01 AM
Rules are rules. Clinton is lucky this day even came.
In the end, the last three contests will be held, the SDs will make their choices, and Obama will be the nominee.
End of story.
Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 9:56:12 AM
bhrandon,
What's your point?
You say the voters vote will count but the delegates will count as 1/2 a vote.
What's your point?
Posted by: Vanessa | May 31, 2008 9:59:09 AM
Yeah - Floridians only count for a half vote each... sounds like the old south to me. Who's the racist? me thinks it is BHO
Posted by: Chipo | May 31, 2008 9:59:27 AM
Hillary supporters UNITE. take this all the way to November. Never give up, We all know Hillary wants to run as an independent! That would fix ol' Barrack and put him back where he needs to be in the South Side of Chicago as a slick, dirty politician in a racist church
Posted by: Chipo | May 31, 2008 10:03:22 AM
Did you guys watch CSPAN and see the mess Wexler made, and how eloquent Nelson was. This will hurt Obama, even though I back him, and was for the 50%.
Posted by: Pamela Byrd | May 31, 2008 10:03:33 AM
Please Hillary, just go away. You are an embarrassment to women everywhere, to our party, and to elections. Giving your word to abide by the rules and then going back on that word alienated me from you and your tactics forever.
The statement you made referring to the untimely and horrible assassination of RFK sickened me to my toes. I cannot believe you have fallen this far down. Or were you always this deceiving and we failed to recognize it?? Either way, you must go and do it post haste.
Posted by: Ellen | May 31, 2008 10:03:45 AM
No, Clinton gets to count them as full delegates in her column but they will have a 1/2 vote at the convention.
Posted by: Texas Voter | May 31, 2008 10:04:37 AM
The DNC Stripped FL of 100% of pledged and un-pledged delegates after our REPUBLICAN colleagues moved the Primary date up too soon. It's wrong to punish us for that which we could not control. If we don't get 100% seating with full votes, the DNC better pay for a revote.
That or I, for one, will urge all Dems I know to MAKE their voice heard, with either low turnout or a vote for McCain. How do you like dem apples?
Posted by: FloridaDem | May 31, 2008 10:08:00 AM
Run as an Independent Hillary... now there is a life story that will allow you to go on the speaker circuit for years. That would teach them once and for all... Don't mess with a woman
Posted by: Chipo | May 31, 2008 10:10:11 AM
I get it Neil. If you don't like the message, kill the messenger. Typical Hillary supporter. All talk, no brains. And no justification for what you say.
Posted by: Ellen | May 31, 2008 10:10:33 AM
Count all the votes or welcome Presidnet McCain in November!
Else, let's have votes on FL only count for half during the November election against McCain.
Posted by: Tim | May 31, 2008 10:11:00 AM
Let's ask Clinton to get out of the race and run as an Independent!
Let's see how far Obama will go!!!
Posted by: Tim | May 31, 2008 10:12:54 AM
lets discount all the states that BHO has won by 50% ...fair and square
Posted by: csquan | May 31, 2008 10:12:56 AM
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