Clinton camp wants re-vote in MI

Posted: Monday, March 17, 2008 4:32 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
The Clinton campaign is stepping up the pressure for Obama to agree to a re-vote in Michigan. Of course, trailing Obama in the delegate count, they have a greater interest in having a do-over there and in Florida.

Said Clinton adviser Harold Ickes, who as a member of the DNC voted to strip both states of all their delegates: “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. If Barack Obama's campaign stands in the way of a new vote, he will be putting his own political interests ahead of the people of Michigan. They deserve to have a voice and a vote in the Democratic Party’s nominating process. A re-vote is the only way Michigan can be assured its delegation will be seated, and vote in Denver. If the Obama campaign thwarts a fair election process for the people of Michigan, it will jeopardize the Democratic nominee’s ability to carry the state in the general election.”

*** UPDATE *** Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor weighs in: “Considering the fact that Sen. Clinton is currently trying to prevent and delay votes in Texas from being counted because she didn't like the outcome, it's pretty apparent that the Clinton campaign’s views on voting are dependent on their own political interest. Hillary Clinton herself said in January that the Michigan primary “didn’t count for anything.” Now, she is cynically trying to change the rules at the eleventh hour for her own benefit. We received a very complex proposal for Michigan re-vote legislation today and are reviewing it to make sure that any solution for Michigan is fair and practical. We continue to believe a fair seating of the delegation deserves strong consideration.”

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Comments

Guess the Clintons think they have a shot now....

We will see

PBrown (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:38 PM)

Barack Obama is inevitable

Barack will be your next President

Barack Obama can not be stopped

Obama '08

after 15 years, HONESTY in the White House

after 15 years, INTEGRITY in the White House

after 15 years, COMPETENCE in the White House

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:38 PM)

Is anyone else tired of justice being denied on the basis of technicality?

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:39 PM)

FOX's MadTV actually does the parody funnier and absurd enough that you would not consider it as for or against either of the candidates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vffJkwOkeTk&feature=related
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=229454

MLC (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:40 PM)

Do they sound DESPERATE ?

Barack Obama is inevitable

Barack Obama will be your next President

(Hillary for dog catcher)

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:40 PM)

I am pretty sure that the Obama camp already said they would abide by what the DNC decided.

I wish the clinton camp would quit spinning webs of deciet and lies!!

I am going to laugh so hard if a revote in MI turns out in favor of Obama after all of the clinton crying... then we are going to hear them whine some more "Oh wait... those shouldn't count... they violated the rules"

OBAMA '08 - Yes we can!!

Catherine (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:41 PM)

This is utter nonsense. Of course they play the disenfranchisement card because, like the "pity" card, it pulls at peoples' heart strings. No, Michigan does not deserve the right to re-vote. If citizens of Michigan are upset about that, they should throw out the bums that tried to over-run the rules. If Michigan re-votes this time, just watch the mayhem that will occur next time. This can be an excellent teaching moment for all the parents out there: if you break the rules, you'll be punished and no amount of temper-tantrums will change that.

Reality Check (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:41 PM)

Man, it would be nice if she'd find a position on FL & MI and stick with it.

We know they won't count.
I want them seated as is (it was fair)
Revote.

Shel, SLC UT (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:42 PM)

"If Barack Obama's campaign stands in the way of a new vote, he will be putting his own political interests ahead of the people of Michigan" Yet it's OK for HRC to put her political ambitions ahead of the entire democratic party?? Give me a break. If she really cared about the voice of the people she would have bowed out along time ago.

Billy, MI (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:42 PM)

How exactly has Obama stood in the way of a re-vote? Has Michigan submitted a plan to the DNC? Has Florida? No? Then it is there fault and there fault only.

Evil, Memphis, TN (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:43 PM)

"Said Clinton adviser Harold Ickes, *who as a member of the DNC voted to strip both states of all their delegates*..."

Most hilarious parenthetical EVER!

Seth (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:44 PM)

LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY. IF THERE IS NO RE-ELECTION IN "BOTH" FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN. I A LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT WILL VOTE FOR SAY, RALPH NADER OR BOZO. BECAUSE, IF MY VOTE DOES NOT COUNT, I WILL MAKE DAM WELL SURE YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT. AND, THERE MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO FEEL THIS WAY.

FLORIDA VOTER WHO HAD DAM WELL BETTER COUNT ! (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:45 PM)

What does Hillary only play by the rules when it might be advantageous to Hillary?

jeanie o, saint inigoes, MD (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:46 PM)

If we could do a re-vote nation wide again, the picture would be very different. Obama is a Wolf in Sheep skin with a mentor who hates our country, goverment and people. The super delegates should use their independent judgments with their own brains based on the information today and forward. Re-vote and send him home!

V,CA (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:46 PM)

Michigan and the Clinton campaign: GROW UP. Giving in to Michigan now would DISENFRANCHISE all the other states that have already voted because it would give Michigan a disproportionate say in the election. In essence, Michigan would get PRECISELY what it was trying to get when it broke the rules. Any parent on the planet is smart enough to know this (and hold your comments those who would say that "this is like punishing your daughter for what your son did"). Wrong analogy. If Michigan voters don't like what their state reps did, they can vote them out next time.

A California Voter (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:47 PM)

Michigan and Flordia were penalized for moving up their dates to vote because they wanted to have more of a say in the primary. So now, as punishment, they are allowed to revote and have even more of a say in the primary.

Democrats have got to be the dumbest people on earth.

Claire Ellington, Toledo OH (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:47 PM)

MEMO TO SENATOR OBAMA: THERE HAD BETTER BE A RE-VOTE IN FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN. OR I'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOU LOSE THE ELECTION.

James Hill,Orlando,Florida (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:47 PM)

I will support a fair and balanced revote.

Emphasis on FAIR and BALANCED. This means no superdelegates, as they skew the balance significantly. Otherwise, play by the rules you pledged, Clinton.

Matt for Obama, Idaho (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:48 PM)

Harold Ickes, who as a member of the DNC voted to strip both states of all their delegates:

Doesn't this just say all that needs to be said. All of her main advisors and Clinton herself are on the record supporting stripping both Michigan and Florida of thier delegates. Now they again want to change the rules to benifit themselves and paint Obama as being undemocratic. Just more politics of the past. Please let's move to the future.

PL, Albany New York (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:48 PM)

In a time where our economy is the way it is. Do you think that wasting the tax payers dollars on something that was already done can be justified. The Clinton camp knew of this before hand what they didnt know is that they would be losing to the underdog from Illinois.

Rocky Rodriguez (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:48 PM)

Fabulous. Give the Clinton babies their revote. As I recall about 45% of the MI Dems trudged through 6" of snow to vote uncommitted. I'm not too worried about what will happen once you actually put Obama's name on the ballot.

High On Change (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:49 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
The pressure is on to get the fix in.

twocanpete (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:49 PM)

H I L L A R Y C L I N T O N . C O M

B I L L (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:49 PM)

It's funny that the guy responsible for Michigan's delegates being discounted is now blaming the Obama camp for this mess.

Obama has stated clearly that if the DNC goes through with a re-vote, he will participate. Funny those Clintons.....

MGP, NY (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:51 PM)

I think Hillary will go into the convention with the most delegates. For our country I pray she will. And when she is our nominee for president, I hope there is no way she would consider BO for VP. The American people don't need a man that would take us back to the way of thinking he has be taught the last 20 years. While we have all been fighting the race issue they have been promoting it. In this day and time it's not the color of your skin that keeps you from feeding your family it's the GOP economy. No matter the color of your skin if you're poor you're poor, if you're rich you're rich. Our goverment needs to make the line between the two less.

Louie, Louie (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:51 PM)

I'm not sure how Obama loses with a re-vote in Michigan. After all, right now, he would get none of those delegates, with a vote, he's guaranteed to gain delegates. And I find it rather amusing that part of Clinton's team were on the committee that stripped the states of its delegates and then has the nerve to talk about the will of the people. Oh well, rules and fair play don't really matter in politics. We learned that from the first Clinton administration.

Holli, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:52 PM)

CHECK THIS OUT: Fifty-two percent of registered Democrats questioned in a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey say the senator from Illinois is their choice for president, with 45 percent supporting Clinton. The poll also suggests Democrats are more enthusiastic about an Obama victory (45 percent) than for a victory by the senator from New York (38 percent).

NOTE: another underreported issue is that the emphasis on the coming primaries ends up de-emphasizing the dynamics of states that have already voted. PA and OH are bastions of racist whites in the north. But let us not forget VA, and WI. The national poll reflects the balance.

Geoff in Brooklyn (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:53 PM)

It sounds to me that Hillary has her own political agenda ahead of the people. She agreed that the votes did not count until she found herself using. It is shameful that she is trying to play on the intelligence of the people for her own personal gain. She says one thing and definitely meants another. She has contradicted herself throughout her campaign.
1. I agree with the Iraq War. Oh...wait it went bad and the voters are against it, so I will say that Bush mislead and took advantage of me. Yeah... that sounds good!
2. Votes in Michigan and Florida don't count and everyone knows that. Oh...wait I'm losing it would be sad it those peoples' voices aren't heard.
3. NAFTA was the best thing ever. Oh...wait it cost common people their jobs and I need their votes; therefore, NAFTA is bad.
4. In agreement with Spitzer about allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers licenses until she realized that it was politically beneficial to her. Oh...wait, no they should not get drivers licenses.

Too name a few!

Unbelievable (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:53 PM)

Sen. Obama has already stated last week that whatever the DNC decides will be okay with him. So Clinton's implication that Sen. Obama is "Against" a re-vote is another one of her futile lies. In addition, states that decide to go against the rules and break them should REMEMBER that there are consequences to the wrong decisions that we make. Did these people not know what would happen to their votes if they didn't comply???

KJ, Dallas, Tx (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:54 PM)

HOW much is this re-vote going to cost??

How much will the party spend to satisfy Hillary?

This is money better spent beating the Republicans -

...and didn't Hillary only win by 10 points in Michigan when her opponent on the ballot was something like "undeclared" (read "anyone but Hillary)?

Mkd (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:54 PM)

Gee, they want to have it AFTER the University of Michigan and Michigan State students all have gone home for the Summer.

Do you suppose that is a coincidence? Fat chance!

Bob from VA (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:54 PM)

Easy questiona for the media here:

Hillary, did you or did you not sign a pledge last March stating that Michigan will no longer count?

Obama has said numerous times that he would agree to go by what path the DNC decides. Do you have a different perspective, Senator Clinton?

Ron, TX (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:56 PM)

Exactly how many times does Senator Clinton get to change the rules as we move through the nomination process. She, along with all the other candidates, agreed to go along with the punishment enforced by the DNC against Michigan and Florida, whose national party's violated the rules. Since losing Iowa, Senator Clinton has attempted to change the agreement regarding polling places on the Strip in Las Vegas (after not winning a sought after union endorsement), threatened to bring a law suit against the Texas prima-caucus system, and now she wants to include two states in order to possibly increase her delegate count. You should not be allowed to change the rules halfway through a process, and if you do then it diminishes the validity of that very process. Who knows...next maybe Senator Clinton will attempt to strongarm super-delegates into voting in favor of her nomination despite losing the local districts...oh wait - too late! Pathetic!

Darren (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:56 PM)

I totally agree the more the Obama camp fights the less likely MI will go to the Democrats in the general election. In fact, it may already be too late. In my opinion, people are already mad that their votes were taken away. I think there is one group in particular that are mad and that is the older vote. With all the commentators focusing on the youth vote, the democratic party has seen to ignore the most stable voting group ever. All the brewhaha that the commentators are making about the youth vote is familiar. We heard it 2000 and 2004, In fact, we heard it in every single election since Kissinger ran. In every single election we find out that the youth vote does not show up in droves. Ask a senior in MI and FL how he or she feels about not being able to vote. And yes K Obermann seniors, women and lower income brackets are at a disadvantage in caucauses simply because they don't have as much time and money to spend 2 hours away from their lives in the late afternoon.

Doreen Cloutier, Superior WI (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:56 PM)

I wish they would count the votes the way they are. No more tax money to come from tax payers. Barry won't stand for it because he lost. He want's something he didn't win. Now about that Mr. Whright, I wonder what would happen if a white preacher stood up and said those things about black people? If Hillary's preacher had said that...katie bar the door....she'd been shamed out of town.

Worried, TN (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:58 PM)

I trudged through the snow (okay, that's not fair; the polls for my district are a block from my house, but still, there was trudging) to vote uncommitted in Michigan, as I was supporting Edwards at the time. I would welcome a chance to vote again with all the candidates represented on the ballot, but I certainly wouldn't place the blame for ANY of this mess at Obama's feet. He's said he'll abide by the DNC's decision, and that's just the position both candidates ought to be taking. I know who "disenfranchised" my primary vote, and I hope to cast votes in November to make my opinion known on that subject. That's all we can really do.

Chris, MI (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:58 PM)

Amnesty for elections already held in Michigan and Florida would be grossly unfair to voters who voted in other states under the rules, with all names on the ballot, campaigning, and knowing the significance of the vote at the time it was held. New elections would be an option, if the financing can be worked out in a fair and legal way. Otherwise, a caucus or evenly split delegation would be an option.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:58 PM)

Ok, lets follow this logic. This year 2 states broke the rules and if there are no consequences, what will happen next election? 5, 7, etc break the rules. We don't change the game in the middle, no matter how Hillary tries, mean cries!!!

Obama O*

Gail, Dayton, OH (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:59 PM)

Only thing that really matters is if one of these two wins the general we'll be able to claim they stole the election and aren't the real President.

Dave, Tn (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:00 PM)

the current numbers by the most updated and accurate count (real clear politics), - pledged delegates: obama- 1415, clinton- 1245. (obama +170).
super delegates: clinton- 248, obama- 213.
super and pledged delegates: obama- 1628, clinton- 1493. (obama +135).
texas current delegate count: obama 98, clinton 94.

if we run all the remaining primaries, include the disgrace of michigan and florida, the count will stay just about the same or with even bigger margin in favor of obama.
why all this misinformation about the counts and who Else would have been allowed to proceed with this bogus race while shooting the party in the foot? (maybe in the head)?
it must be stopped now!!

jacob, los angeles, california (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:00 PM)

MEMO TO SENATOR OBAMA: THERE HAD BETTER BE A RE-VOTE IN FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN. OR I'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOU LOSE THE ELECTION.
James Hill,Orlando,Florida (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 4:47 PM)
_____________

OOOOOOOOOH

PBrown (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:01 PM)

The full Florida vote better be counted! No more Obama efforts to block 1.8 million Florida Democrats.

Dan, Pensacola (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:02 PM)

Obama and his surrogates want to disenfrnachise some-700,000-or-so Democratic voters in the state of Michigan, and they want to do it intentionally.
To them, inclusivity is only appropriate when it benefits them.
The rest of the time, (we) can all go to hell.
Hey, I wonder how military veterans in Michigan, especially those who's fathers and grandfathers served in WWII, feel about Mr. Obama and his pastor right now?

Hillary Clinton for The People, 2008!

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:02 PM)

" ...it will jeopardize the Democratic nominee’s ability to carry the state in the general election."
--and they [the Clinton campaign] will do anything to make sure just that happens. One of those self-fulfilling prophesies.

P.S. Obama is smarter/more reasonable on the economy, but Clinton does give a better partisan, politicized answer--and I'm not saying that is bad for her campaign.

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:02 PM)

It wasn't the voters of Michigan and Florida's fault that their vote didn't count .It the states party the voters shouldn't be punished .And if the Obama camp wants the pledged delegates to decide the election why should they care .

Tim Stidham (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:02 PM)

I do not care who you support, each state must be counted. It is imperitive that the Democrats do not lose MI or FL in November due to angry voters. Trust me these voters will send a message and give this election to McCain if they are not permit to re-vote. We cannot afford to give these states away, especially Michigan since this is a State the Democrats usually can count on.

Mark (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:03 PM)

Such spin. Obama has never said he would stand in the way of a revote in Michigan. He has a good shot of winning Michigan. More Clinton BS.

Dagny, Chicago (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:03 PM)

Spin spin spin.

There is absolutely no evidence that Obama is thwarting "a fair election process for the people of Michigan" but it sure doesn't stop the Hillary campaign from saying so...

Why is it on Obama to make sure the people of Michigan vote? It should not be on ANY candidate. That is why rules and processes for primaries and caucuses are spelled out IN ADVANCE.

As an Obama suppporter, I have NO OBJECTION (aside from the credibility issue for the DNC for going back on their own rules) to having a new primary. But I sure don't want to be tasked with how to do it and how to pay for it. I didn't create the problem and I don't have the time (or the money) to solve it.

Sorry, I absolutely mean no disrespect to individual voters and supporters of any candidate, I know if it happened to me here I would be livid at the decision-makers who made this happen in January (which would not be Obama or Clinton).

Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:04 PM)

Just when you thought you've heard it all... this coming from Ickes who voted to strip the delegates in the first place... My head is actually spinning from the tremendous amont of BS coming out of Camp Hillary today alone...(not to mention every other day - but is it me or has today been extra special with the BS..

Truly - how can these people live with themselves and all the deceit they fling around! My wise grampa told me years ago "Every dog has their day" well I wish to hell someone would let the dog catcher loose and put an end to all this nonsense!!

Women for Obama 08 - you go Lisa,CT - I'm on board!

Feisty Redhead IL (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:04 PM)

Clinton wants votes to count - Obama doesn't, unless they can be equally divided since he wouldn't win a popular vote. Why do you think he like caucauses so much.

Allow Florida & Michigan to count their votes (Sent Monday, March 17, 2008 5:04 PM)

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