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May 31, 2008

US Democratic Party Discusses Disqualified Votes 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1C79694:A6F02AD83191E1603EB56E692AEBC280B3350E090FE6A6E8& 
Votes in Florida and Michigan could play important role in deciding party's nominee for president 






Barack Obama speaks to a Great Falls, Montana crowd during his campaign rally, Friday night 30 May 2008Democratic Party officials are meeting in Washington Saturday to attempt to resolve a dispute over what to do with primary votes cast in Michigan and Florida.  Those votes that could play an important role in deciding the party's nominee for president.

The party disqualified the results of the votes in Florida and Michigan after both states defied party rules by holding their primaries earlier than rules allowed.

Senator Hillary Clinton, who is trailing Senator Barack Obama in the delegate count, overwhelmingly won the elections in Michigan and Florida, and wants to have the original results stand.  But both candidates agreed not to campaign in the states, and Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan.







Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a campaign event in Huron, South Dakota, 29 May 2008 A 30-member panel, which includes Clinton and Obama supporters, will decide whether to recognize the states, and if they do, how to apportion the delegates.

Michigan and Florida are considered key states to win in the November general election against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

The three remaining Democratic party primaries will be held in coming days starting with Puerto Rico on Sunday.  South Dakota and Montana will vote June 3.

Obama is close to clinching the nomination with his overwhelming lead in pledged delegates as well as so-called superdelegates, party activists and elected officials who are free to support any candidate at the party's nominating convention. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will personally urge the superdelegates to publicly support either Obama or Clinton after the final primary contests next week in order to end the long nomination battle.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.



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