Friday, February 15, 2008
Florida and Michigan: The missing delegates
There is a Democratic Party rule that only States given a special waver can hold their Primary or Caucus before February 5th. Both Florida and Michigan brought theirs forward ahead of this date and the Democratic National Committee refused to grant them the waver.
The reason for these moves was that both States wanted their votes to count for more than they do when they come late on, when either overwhelming momentum influences the vote, or the nomination is already either won, or as much of a formality as the inevitable nomination of John McCain for the Republicans.
Why they had to choose dates before February 5th and why the DNC allowed 4 other States the special waver is a mystery. Why should Iowa traditionally be the first caucus and New Hampshire the first Primary, thus giving them undue influence on the nomination process? Why was the Nevada Caucus brought forward ahead New Hampshire this year and South Carolina also allowed the special waver? And why were Florida and Michigan not allowed the waver? Why does this ridiculous process of States holding votes on different dates persist at all!
Actually, delving further into this mess, it was none other than Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican, who signed the legislation moving the Primary date for Florida. Might some skullduggery have been involved? And why the fuck did the Democrats allow a decision made by a Republican to cause such pandemonium for their party!
Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan is a Democrat. Her reasons for bringing her State’s Primary forward to January 15th, was to get the candidates to focus on the extremely poor condition of the Michigan economy. This move was contested by New Hampshire, which wanted to retain its status as first to hold a Primary. Draw your own conclusions on that. I have certainly drawn mine!
For whatever reason, a total of 368 Democratic Delegates will not be counted between these two States. As there are 4049 Delegates including these, this means that more then one in 12 Democratic Delegates are unimportant.
In 2004, John Kerry narrowly won in Michigan and slightly less narrowly lost in Florida. For the Democratic nominee to win the Presidential election in November, he or she will surely need to win both of these States, which between them carry 44 of the 270 Electoral College Votes that will be needed for victory.
Apparently, rules for both parties dictated that half of the Delegates should be sent to their respective Conventions in such circumstances. The Republican Party decided to uphold its own rules.
The DNC ruling punishing these States in effect disenfranchises over 8% of potential Primary voters and worse, potential November voters! For me, this is a monumental cock-up. How can the Democrats hope to run a Presidential Campaign when they are so cavalier with their own nomination process?
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The reason for these moves was that both States wanted their votes to count for more than they do when they come late on, when either overwhelming momentum influences the vote, or the nomination is already either won, or as much of a formality as the inevitable nomination of John McCain for the Republicans.
Why they had to choose dates before February 5th and why the DNC allowed 4 other States the special waver is a mystery. Why should Iowa traditionally be the first caucus and New Hampshire the first Primary, thus giving them undue influence on the nomination process? Why was the Nevada Caucus brought forward ahead New Hampshire this year and South Carolina also allowed the special waver? And why were Florida and Michigan not allowed the waver? Why does this ridiculous process of States holding votes on different dates persist at all!
Actually, delving further into this mess, it was none other than Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican, who signed the legislation moving the Primary date for Florida. Might some skullduggery have been involved? And why the fuck did the Democrats allow a decision made by a Republican to cause such pandemonium for their party!
Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan is a Democrat. Her reasons for bringing her State’s Primary forward to January 15th, was to get the candidates to focus on the extremely poor condition of the Michigan economy. This move was contested by New Hampshire, which wanted to retain its status as first to hold a Primary. Draw your own conclusions on that. I have certainly drawn mine!
For whatever reason, a total of 368 Democratic Delegates will not be counted between these two States. As there are 4049 Delegates including these, this means that more then one in 12 Democratic Delegates are unimportant.
In 2004, John Kerry narrowly won in Michigan and slightly less narrowly lost in Florida. For the Democratic nominee to win the Presidential election in November, he or she will surely need to win both of these States, which between them carry 44 of the 270 Electoral College Votes that will be needed for victory.
Apparently, rules for both parties dictated that half of the Delegates should be sent to their respective Conventions in such circumstances. The Republican Party decided to uphold its own rules.
The DNC ruling punishing these States in effect disenfranchises over 8% of potential Primary voters and worse, potential November voters! For me, this is a monumental cock-up. How can the Democrats hope to run a Presidential Campaign when they are so cavalier with their own nomination process?
