Rules and By-Laws

Today the Democrat's Rules and BY-Laws committee meet to settle the question of the Florida and Michigan primaries which were held in contravention of party rules. The party leadership in both states jumped the gun and scheduled their primaries too early in the political season. Hillary "won" in both Florida and Michigan, but Obama wasn't on the ballot in Michigan so the people there didn't have a a fair choice.

Hillary wants all the votes apportioned in accordance tot eh results of the votes in those states, but that will never happen. The national leadership must maintain some semblance of order--admittedly, hard for Democrats to do--and so they will compromise and give each delegate only half a vote.

They result will leave Obama with a substantial lead in delegate strength with primary season ending this week. The only question for Hillary is whether to take the classier route and withdraw after the primaries, and thus allow the various factions in the party sufficient time to lick their wounds and rally behind Obama and prepare for the battle with McCain. Hillary's alternative course of action is to keep the pot boiling until the convention in August and wage a floor fight based on two theories. First, she can argue that the Florida and Michigan delegates should be seated at full strength and the delegates apportioned in accordance with the votes in those states. Second, she can argue that as a result of seating the Florida and Michigan delegations at full strength, the number of delegate votes needed for the nomination then increases to 2250 from 2050. If Hillary chooses this latter course of action she will damage the party and what is left of her reputation.

The fact is, the PLEO's who have to vote will run to Obama following the last primary. Politicians never want to be the last aboard the bandwagon, and they see Obama's nomination as being inevitable at this point.

Look for Hillary to bow out in ten days.