(Danville, California)
What a treat it is to be sitting at home this Sunday, after being on the campaign trail most of the year. It's sunny, clear and in the 70s in Northern California. What's not so sunny and clear this weekend is what to do with the primary votes for Democrats in Florida and Michigan.
Both states were penalized when they disobeyed the orders of the Democratic National Committee and moved their primaries up ahead of February 5 "Super Tuesday."
There are a few options out there, but none with unanimous appeal.
Delegates could be apportioned according to the votes already held, but Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will never go for that, since he was not even on the ballot in Michigan.
Option two is a "do-over" primary, either with people going to the polls, or having mail-in ballots. But who pays the bill? Michigan is estimating another primary will cost $8 million, and Florida's governor says his state would have to pay $22 million. Should taxpayers (including Republicans and Independents) be stuck with that bill. Or should the state and national democratic party be forced to pay? National Democrats warned the state parties there would be consequences for breaking the rules. Multiple lawsuits could be coming.
It's quite possible the person with the most popular votes, will NOT have the most delegates. Does this sound familiar?
Option three would be to not recognize the delegations from either state. But Democrats need those votes in November and an angry backlash could put John McCain (R-AZ) in the White House
Michigan has a Democratic governor, Florida a Republican. But in an act of bipartisanship, they issued a joint statement, asking that their delegates be seated:
From Govs. Charlie Crist of R-Florida and Jennifer Granholm of D-Michigan:
"The right to vote is at the very foundation of our democracy. This primary season, voters have turned out in record numbers to exercise that right, and it is reprehensible that anyone would seek to silence the voices of 5,163,271 Americans. It is intolerable that the national political parties have denied the citizens of Michigan and Florida their votes and voices at their respective national conventions."
So I am curious what our readers think. At the end of each blog entry, there is a space for people to write in their comments. Tel me what you think we should do with Michigan and Florida, by clicking on the comments page below!
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It's quite possible the person with the most popular votes, will NOT have the most delegates. Does this sound familiar?
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