SNEAK PEEK: FL and MI Mulligans
Will FL and MI voters have another chance to weigh in on the Democratic contest?
March 12, 2008— -- The race for the Democratic nomination is about to enter uncharted waters – 41 days without a contest and no obvious events looming that could change the dynamics of this race.
(Luckily for those wanting breaking news, Eliot Spitzer's resignation provided 48 hours of salacious headlines, details and shifts in the superdelegate count.)
We are looking at a long stretch between now and the Pennsylvania primary – a stretch that will be notable for the inevitable dozens of dueling conference calls, surrogates detouring from talking points, and the campaigns' delegate trackers and reporters obsessing over those 300 or so uncommitted superdelegates
But one wild card that could make things a little more interesting as we head into spring – what to do about Michigan and Florida.
Hillary Clinton said today that the voters in those states are in peril of being excluded, ABC News' Eloise Harper reports, and called on Barack Obama to join her to make sure the votes there "count."
Watch the video HERE.
"The nearly two and a half million Americans in those two states who participated in the primary elections are in danger of being excluded from our democratic process and I think that is wrong," Clinton said.
Of course it's in Clinton's interest to seat those delegates, because she won both states and her campaign feels confident that she has enough support there to win a re-do election.
But over in Obama-land, they are singing a different tune. ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that on a conference call with reporters today, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe all but ruled out the possibility, in their minds, of a mail-in vote in Florida and Michigan.
Plouffe outlined three options their campaign could see working:
-- A caucus. (Oh boy wouldn't they love a caucus!)
-- A full primary, which would come with considerable cost (about $8-10 million according to some estimates)
-- Some seating of the delegates "not based solely on the outcome of their elections" which Plouffe called the "easiest option" and follows Chris Dodd's suggestion of a 50-50 split of the delegates (even though Obama was not even on the Michigan ballot). This option looks like the best scenario for Obama – no do-over fights and delegates for nothing.
But that third option would mean that this fight rages on until July because the only way a 50-50 split of delegates could come about is if the DNC's credentials committee signs off on it.
It's interesting to consider how the narrative of the race may change if FL and MI were to come back into play. The economy would clearly be the focal point for both campaigns in Michigan and exit polls continue to show that it's the most important issue to Democratic voters. Yet today, both the Clinton and Obama campaigns spent the day pushing the candidates' ability to deal with national security concerns as president. Perhaps using the six week lull to start to lay the groundwork for the general election narrative against John McCain?
Amid prostitution scandal, Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigns from office. LINK
Spitzer Calls It Quits
In the midst of prostitution scandal, the New York governor resigns from office. LINK
Clinton Pushes Obama on Unseated Delegates
Clinton to Florida and Michigan voters: "We should count your vote." LINK
Hasselbeck: Ladies, Give Your Guys Sex
The Eliot Spitzer scandal leads "The View" to discuss the needs of men. LINK
Letterman's Sharp Words for Spitzer
The late-night funnyman gets serious as he rails against the governor. LINK
Rice Hearing Interrupted by 'Bloody' Hands
Code Pink protesters sit in on a Capitol Hill hearing with Secretary Rice. LINK
Ferraro: 'Taken Out of Context'
The former vice presidential candidate defends her comments on sex and race. LINK
Obama Addresses Race Remarks
The Illinois senator responds to controversy stirred up by Geraldine Ferraro. LINK
Spitzer Pressured to Resign
Will the New York governor fight the prostitution case or take a plea deal? LINK
Scandalized Mayor Blasts the Press
Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick ripped opponents for enflaming text-message scandal. LINK
Speculating Spitzer's Next Move
Will New York's Governor step down or hang tough amid a prostitution scandal? LINK
Obama Wins Mississippi
The Democratic candidate wins the delegates of another Deep South state. LINK
Interns for the ABC News Political Unit:
The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking three full-time summer interns in Washington, D.C.
The internship begins Monday, May 19, and runs through Friday, Aug. 22.
Not only do Political Unit interns attend political events and contribute to The Note and the politics page of ABCNews.com, they also help us by conducting research, maintaining contact lists, and updating the political schedule.
In order to apply, you MUST be either a graduate student or an undergraduate student who has completed his or her first year of college. The internship is NOT open to recent graduates.
You also must be able to work eight hours per day, starting early, Monday through Friday. Interns will be paid $8.50/hour.
If you write well, don't mind getting up early, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to teddy.davis@abc.com as soon as possible, with the subject line: "INTERN" in all caps. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates of your availability.
