Why isn't it part of the debate that we're still talking about a reward for the miscreant states of Florida and Michigan? They're going to end up with hugely undue influence as a direct result of their rule-breaking.
That said, I want to point something out from the following links:
(pdf) democrats.org's delegate allocations noting 4048 total delegates
(pdf) Michigan's state party FAQ on delegates noting 156 Delegates they expected to send
Florida's claim to have 210 delegates
The 4048 total number of delegates includes all those goose-eggs for Florida and Michigan. So that 2025 number (50% + 1) is not the magic number if Florida and Michigan find a way to count. The figures in the above links to the state party websites do not seem to indicate whether they count super delegates so my figures may still be wrong, but I make it 366 "uncounted" delegates that could be seated. That pushes the math as follows (after the fold):
4048 + 366 = 4414
4414 / 2 = 2207, + 1 = 2208. The nomination fights will not be about getting to 2025, they have to reach 2208.
Anyway, it's an important distinction to be made and since we're pretty sure there'll be some accommodation made, the 2025 number is meaningless.
I'm trying to figure out a way to let the Michigan and Florida delegates be seated only after a first ballot. I'd like them to hold fair contests to elect delegates, but the states themselves still deserve some sort of sanction at the convention itself. Maybe let the delegates vote, but they can't participate in any of the other floor activities, whatever they are.
I dunno, I'm just spitballing here.
Mike