Yesterday the Rules Committee resolved the problems of Florida and Michigan, with a unanimous vote on FL and a strong 19 to 8 vote on MI. The Michigan compromise, which was proposed by a Clinton supporter, awards 69 delegates to Clinton and 59 to Obama. This was vehemently opposed by Harold Ickes, however, who warned us that Mrs. Clinton instructed him to reserve her rights to take this to the Credential Committee on appeal. The problem is that Clinton had 73 delegates from that famous Michigan primary in which Obama’s name was not on the ballot. Ickes said, among other things, "I submit to you that hijacking 4 delegates is not a good way to start down the path to party unity."
This morning, Sunday, we find out that Team Clinton also objects to awarding ANY Michigan delegates to Obama - so according to them, those 59 delegates should remain uncommitted.
So no matter what happens in Puerto Rico today and in Montana & South Dakota on Tuesday, Clinton is likely to drag this on through the appeal process for as long as it takes. We all heard her unruly gang chaning "Denver, Denver, Denver....."
It’s not enough for the Supers to come with enough delegates to put Obama over 2118-delegate total - because Clinton lost those 4 delegates!
And it’s not enough for him to get the full number (2209) that would include the full FL and MI delegations - because Clinton says he shouldn’t have those 59 delegates!
So I’m suggesting that Obama needs to have 175 Super Delgates declare for him on Wednesday. That’s the estimate of how many he’ll need after PR, MT, and SD - PLUS enough to put him over 2209 - PLUS and extra 59 just because.
Let’s put this thing to bed once and for all.