The Democrats face a tricky situation regarding the Florida and Michigan primary results. Both states decided to jump ahead of their assigned slots in the primary schedule as determined by the Democratic national party. As punishment, both states were stripped of their delegates.
Back when these primaries were held and their delegates subsequently stripped, there was some thought that these two states wouldn't matter much because it was assumed that either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama would be the clear winner in the race to win the Democratic nominee. That has not happened. Michigan and Florida may be the tipping points to put one of these two over the top.
So we see people down in Florida trying to solve this problem.
Why does the input of the Obama and Clinton campaigns matter in how Florida Democrats decide how to solve their primary problem? It seems to me that both of these campaigns could have motives that would go against the interest of the people in Florida. For example, Barack Obama would be happy to split the Florida delegates half-half even though this isn't necessarily how Floridians would vote. (Hillary Clinton, at this point, would be favored to win the Florida primary if another one was held.)
I would think Florida Democrats would just decide how they want to run their own primary, the opinions of the Obama and Clinton campaigns be damned.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Florida Question
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Drag out the primary process ever further? Why not! It’s already been going on for more than a year. My prediction is that if McCain wins the general election, the democrat primaries for 2012 will begin on Inauguration Day.
My thinking is coming around to what you are thinking, The Bad.
I agree. The primaries are killing us. But, PA might actually make a difference this go around. Too bad I can't vote in the Democratic primary...
Thanks for the comment Thomas.
Michigan and Florida sure would have saved everyone a headache if they had just played by the rules. At this point, it doesn't look like there will be any re-vote. It looks like it's going to be some compromise involving the candidates.
Post a Comment