How Do Democrats Handle Florida and Michigan?

(Plantation, Florida)

I have been reporting from South Florida all week, but I must confess that I still have no better idea what is going to happen to Florida's Democratic convention delegates. The state party is against holding another primary, as is Michigan's, so another way to count the delegates must be found.

You'll recall that both states jumped the gun and held primaries before the national Democratic party's designated date. In return the results in Florida and Michigan have not been recognized.

Hillary Clinton's campaign has been pushing hard for a resolution, since she has little chance of winning without these two states. Barack Obama's campaign wants "redo" primaries in both states, since he was not even on the ballot in Michigan.

The big danger for all Democrats is that the national party so angers voters in Florida and Michigan that they lose the November election. As former President Bill Clinton has said, "It's hard to imagine Democrats winning in November without winning Michigan, and it's hard to imagine the Democrats losing in November if they win Florida." Like him or not, the man knows how to read the electoral map.

Option A: Don't seat the Michigan and Florida delegations at all. The result: McCain wins in November.

Option B: Redo the primaries. Result: Doubtful the states will reconsider saying no to this.

Option C: Seat the delegations based on the ill-gotten primary results. In Florida the result was Clinton 49.7%; Obama 33%; Edwards 15%. In Michigan it was Clinton 55%; Uncommitted 40%. One idea is to just give Obama 40% of those uncommitted delegates. The result: Obama's delegate lead shrinks to about 110 as we head into Pennsylvania on April 22.

So Option C best benefits Hillary Clinton, because it narrows the Obama delegate lead, and she can conceivably catch him with the "Super Delegates." But, option C also benefits Obama if he is the nominee. It ensures that Democrats in Michigan and Florida will come back to vote in November.

If the Democrats drop the ball on this primary mess, it will be a "one-two" punch (along with the "Super Delegate" fiasco), that ensures John McCain will be hearing "Hail to the Chief" for at least the next four years.

Friday it's back to California. Check in often at http://www.markcurtismedia.blogspot.com/