BREAKING NEWS: MI Dems to announce a new caucus

The New Republic reports that Michigan "plans to get out of its uncounted delegate problem by announcing a new caucus in the next few days."

Said the source: "They want to play. They know how to do caucuses. That was their plan all along, before they got cute with the primary."

"Michigan Democrats had originally planned on caucuses after the legally permissible Feb. 5 date, but then went along with top elected Democrats, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who pushed for an early primary."

The Hotline confirms the story.

http://politicalwire.com/...

A member of the DNC's Rules And Bylaws Committee--the committee that stripped Florida and Michigan of its delegates for moving their primaries before February 5th--told me that Michigan plans to get out of its uncounted delegate problem by announcing a new caucus in the next few days.

"They want to play. They know how to do caucuses," the DNC source said. "That was their plan all along, before they got cute with the primary."

Michigan Democrats had originally planned on caucuses after the legally permissible Feb. 5 date, but then went along with top elected Democrats, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who pushed for an early primary.

Hillary Clinton won that Jan. 15 primary, but was the only major candidate on the ballot. Barack Obama and John Edwards had removed their names, although Obama supporters in the state urged voters to choose "uncommitted" over Clinton. Forty percent of the voters that day did just that, compared to 55 percent who voted for

http://blogs.tnr.com/...

Statement by Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer on seating Michigan's delegates at the Democratic National Convention:

"We are currently in negotiations over the seating of a Michigan delegation to the National Convention. Any resolution must be agreeable to all four interested parties: the MDP, the DNC, and both the Clinton and Obama campaigns because we all want a united Democratic Party in Michigan to ensure a victory for the Democratic nominee this fall. A McCain presidency would continue the failed policies of the Bush Administration that hurt Michigan jobs, keep health care out of reach for millions, and make our country less safe. I am confident that we will reach a compromise that will result in Michigan being a full participant at the National Convention."

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.c...

From Michigan resident, GOTV...

a Michigan "caucus" is essentially a primary held by the party on a given date during shorter hours than a primary--probably 10:00 to 6:00--in a limited (but still significant) number of locations, where you essentially show up, declare in writing that you are a Democrat, are handed a ballot upon which you vote, drop your ballot in a box, and leave.

It's a caucus in name only.

http://www.dailykos.com/...

And another from the comments, wisdude adds...

This is great news for Obama.  And if Clinton is not careful, how she responds to this may end her campaign.

It's not her decision to make whether Michigan chooses to hold a caucus and whether the DNC chooses to seat the delegates selected by the caucus.  The only decision she has to make is whether she will place her name on the ballot.  If she doesn't, she doesn't get any delegates.  

This basically is a PR nightmare for her because she will not do well in a caucus, but if she refuses to participate, she looks arrogant, elitist, and unwilling to accept a negotiated compromise.

http://www.dailykos.com/...