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March 12, 2008
Posted: 10:15 AM ET
Clinton is urging the Michigan and Florida delegations be seated.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Hillary Clinton said Wednesday it is crucial Michigan and Florida voters not be disenfranchised from the 2008 primary process and, and that the dispute over how Democratic votes from those states may be counted needs to be resolved quickly. Her comments came amidst a fresh push by her campaign to ensure delegations from both states are seated at the party's summer convention, as negotiations over a resolution seemed to hit roadblocks. "The nearly two and a half million Americans in those states who participated in the primary elections are in danger of being excluded from our democratic process and I think that's wrong. The results of those primaries were fair and they should be honored," she told a breakfast gathering hosted by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington. "In my view there are two options: honor the results or hold new primary elections. I don't see any other solutions that are fair." Earlier Wednesday, Clinton campaign manger Maggie Williams sent a letter to Barack Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe, urging that the two camps come together to forge a speedy resolution to this problem — even though any such agreement would not be official Clinton's name appeared on Michigan's ballot, Obama's did not. Both candidates' names were on Florida's ballot, but neither campaigned actively there. Clinton did make an appearance in Davie, Florida on the evening of that state's primary once the polls had closed. "Whether voters are clamoring for solutions to the challenges we face or not or whether people are coming out in droves to be heard we have a basic obligation to make sure every that every vote in America counts," Clinton said, echoing comments she has made since both states voted in late January. "I hope that Senator Obama's campaign will join me in working to make that happen. I think that that is a non-partisan solution to make sure that we do count these votes." Clinton is scheduled to attend closed fundraisers in Washington and will address the National Newspaper Publishers Association Wednesday evening. – CNN Senior Political Producer Sasha Johnson Filed under: Hillary Clinton
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