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Democrats to Settle Score on Fla., Mich.

Committee likely to seat half of delegates, a blow to Clinton

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 31, 2008 7:33 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Democratic rules committee has begun a daylong meeting to try to settle the dispute over the seating of Florida and Michigan’s delegates, chosen in violation of party rules. Many Dems expect half the delegations from each state to be seated, the Washington Post reports, which would do little to alter the delegate math that underscores Barack Obama’s virtual lock on the nomination.

If the full delegations are seated, as Hillary Clinton supporters are urging, the new "magic number" of delegates needed to clinch the nomination will go from 2,026 to 2,210, Politico notes, requiring Obama to capture more superdelegate votes, possibly adding a few weeks to the primary denouement. And the question remains whether the opposing campaigns will accept the decision or appeal to the party credentials committee at the convention itself.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign rally in Maysville, Ky. Monday, May 19, 2008.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign rally in Maysville, Ky. Monday, May 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
In this May 19, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is escorted to the stage by tribal members at rally in Crow Agency, Mont.
In this May 19, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is escorted to the stage by tribal members at rally in Crow Agency, Mont.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
In this Jan. 3, 2008 file photo, a man walks past signs for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa.
In this Jan. 3, 2008 file photo, a man walks past signs for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
In this Sept. 9, 2007 file photo, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, left, greets Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., at the end of the Democratic primary debate hosted by Univision in Coral Gables, Fla.
In this Sept. 9, 2007 file photo, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, left, greets Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., at the end of the Democratic primary debate hosted by Univision in Coral Gables, Fla.   (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
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Profiles of the rules committee members
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Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Democratic National Committee • Michigan primary • delegates • Florida primary • Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee

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