Unexpected wrinkle for Clinton in Michigan
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Democratic leaders in Michigan are urging supporters of John Edwards and Barack Obama, who are not on the ballot in the state, to vote “uncommitted” in the January 15 primary – a move that could create an unexpected headache for Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Clinton is the only major presidential candidate who did not pull her name from the Michigan ballot after the national party penalized the state for scheduling the vote in mid-January, rather than later in the cycle.
The national party voted to strip Michigan of delegates as a penalty, but party leaders in the electoral-vote rich state have expressed confidence that they will be seated at the convention.
None of the candidates, including Clinton, will be campaigning here, and none have authorized write-in campaigns – which means that, under state law, their supporters cannot cast write-in votes for any of them.
But if at least 15 percent of the voters in a congressional district opt for the “uncommitted” option rather than voting for Clinton, delegates not bound to any candidate could attend the national convention – a development that could allow Edwards or Obama supporters to play a role in candidate selection there.
In this cycle, more than in recent campaigns, the delegate count may prove important. Narrow losses – which still add to a candidate’s delegate total – could keep more than one presidential hopeful in contention. “For the first time since 1988, this is a delegate race,” Clinton aide Howard Wolfson told reporters Wednesday.
A new group, Detroiters for Uncommitted Voters, is launching a grassroots campaign to promote the “uncommitted” option. The Detroit News reported Thursday that Democratic Rep. John Conyers and his wife, Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, said they will launch ads calling for "uncommitted" votes if there is no other way to register support for Barack Obama.
The option is also being endorsed by Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, and the state’s Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer as a way for Democrats who do not support Clinton to participate in the vote.
Neither man has endorsed a presidential candidate.
–CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand
BE HAPPY, BUT NOT FOR LONG.
Barack Obama'S COMMING BACK STRONG
Hillary with all her 'experience' sent America to war in iraq leaving us with close to a trillion doller debt not to talk about the loss of precious lives of our loved ones.vote anything but Hillary!
Now the Clintons can blame the vast left wing conspiracy if she loses.
ANYONE BUT CLINTON '08
o A sensible way out of Iraq
o Gave and continues to give healthcare greater visibility
o Pragmatic
o Will allow tax breaks enacted by George bush to lapse. Our generation will have to pay our own bills rather than lay them at the feet of our children and grandchildren. A true Democrat.
Vote Hillary!!!
DEMS-
Sean Hannity was absolutely giddy about Hillary winning on Tuesday. Anytime that piece garbage is happy, we should be unhappy. The republicans WANT to face Hillary. I would love for her to be president, but I fear she would lose the general election, and I'm not willing to take that chance. There's too much at stake.
Obama would beat any of those republican clowns EASILY. That's the matchup we need! Hillary supporters NEED to think about the general election; just by nominating her doesn't mean she'd be elected president.
Vote Obama for a sure win! (or, I guess, in your case, vote "uncommited." that really sucks)
I like what that tj is your slice wrote. I guess he expressed himself.
DEBBIE DINGELL!!!!! IS THE REAL CULPRIT!!!
FOR ALL YOU FOLKS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF MICHIGAN HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH!!!
DEBBIE DINGELL SITS ON "THE STATE & NATIONAL DNC COMMITTES"(THAT IS UNFAIR IN ITSELF)(BLACKS SHOULD HAVE A VOICE @ THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE LILLY WHITE DNC, BUT WE DONT) I BLAME THE STATE'S BLACK POLITICAL LEADERS FOR NOT BEING DEMANDING ENOUGH FOR "A SEAT @ THE TABLE WHEN MAKING RULES CHANGES"!!!
UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR STATE MOST BLACK POLS ARE "CHASING THE MONEY" & DONT CARE ABOUT "BLACK VOICES BEING HEARD DEMOCRATICALLY IN PROPORTION TO OUR PARTICIPATION"!!!!
DEBBIE DINGELL ALSO SITS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR G.M.....
& SHE REPRESENTS THE AUTO INDUSTRY ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND JOHN DINGELL......
WHO HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS CLOSE TO 40YEARS.....(THATS WHAT I SAID)...
THEY HATE OBAMA, BECAUSE HE HAD "THE NERVE", TO TELL AN AUDIENCE OF "WHITE CORPORATE MONEY", "TO CHANGE YOUR AUTO'S TO HAVE HIGHER C.A.F.E. STANDARDS"!!!! ( HOW DARE HE SPEAK TO US SO BOLDLY)????(YOU KNOW THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE THINKING)!!!
SO DEBBIE IS DOING THE "DNC WASH.D.C. PARTY INSIDERS & G.M.", A BIG FAVOR IN RE WRITING "THE RULES TO FAVOR HILLARY"!!!!
RECALL JOHN DINGELL & FIRE DEBBIE DINGELL OFF OF THE DNC NATIONAL & STATE COMMITTEE!!!!
NO DRAMA WITH OBAMA IN 2008!!!
If you want delegates...PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT!!
By calling for the uncommited vote, Obama and Edwards are again trying to embarass Hillary. Stick it to them and vote for Hillary!
Go Hillary!
The Hillary bashers on this ticker wouldn't be baying like basset hounds IF HILLARY WERE NOT SO STRONG AND HEAVILY TIPPED TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY. The louder they bay, the more bitter their words are, the more hate they exhbit towards Hillary, the more it is being seen how UNBEATABLE HILLARY IS. The increasing number of anti-Hillary comments prove one thing: Obama's supporters and anti-Hillary campaigners are getting more and more frustrated in their bid to dislodge Hillary from her front-running position in the current primary/caucus wave. They indeed are moving hell and high water to pull Hillary down, but they see they are not making any progress – hence their hysterical drive to bash Hillary march to victory. They keep piling themselves over one another. Their increasing envy and hate for Hillary is Goliath to Hillary's David of talent, experience, intelligence of a woman it will take NEVER for America to replace. Without Hillary, there can never be a woman President of the US. She is matchless and her detractors are not willing to concede this. Anti-Hillary women, get over your dumbness!
OBAMA 08.
It is a sad commentary for this nation when I read comments like from Xavier, Washington, DC who feel that Obama may have won due to the fact that Michigan has so many blacks. Is that really a reason to elect a President? No matter DNC or RNC.....think – think – think and make decisions based on a thought process other than color. To vote for someone just because they are Black, or to suggest that they would win a contest just because they are Black is insulting not only to the Nation as a whole but to each individual voter.
I won't slam Clinton, vote Clinton or uncommitted. As an Obama supporter I would say Uncommited. But I have a question, what does uncommited mean if later you get a voice, can you then have a vote?
But the reason I'm writing is this:
It's a shame these people are not going to get a say, I also don't agree Iowa and NH should get so much say. But you know we only hear about this right before elections, and I don't think that is the time to make changes. I say the time to do it is right after the election, as soon as we vote, let's start working on this problem!!!!
I would like to see something like dates set for primaries or caucuses, and right after the election every year a lottery like system picks what state goes in those dates. The dates are set but not the states!!! Of course it's just an idea and people alot smarter then me might find that won't work!!!
with the Klinton's it's all about power...they would eat their young for power....
It's like everyone take one step forward if you all agree to withdraw...they as they all step forward Hillary steps backwards...she is a ruthless and dishonest person..
Ok all of you Obama people, how can you as americans support someone who doesn't even believe in our pledge of allegiance? Come on you want him to be president, why? Also who has really listened to him, how is he for our middle class/our children/healthcare.......I really hope that to all of you who keep chanting his name really know what you are doing.
Becky....Read up on what the candidates did when your state representatives decided to move your elections up – Edwards and Obama bailed – Clinton stayed on the ballot with good reason – in hopes that your representative will get it together – looks like Edwards and Obama have little faith in Michigan's reps.
David...where did you read that "..."??? More negative speculation – so who is dividing up the people?? The news media – anyone in particular? Without proof the comments are nothing more than that and I take it that the intent is to create division.
Stephen – Uncommitted is not a vote for Hillary.......
Should Hillary be elected, we will have to set a budget for buying expensive insurance to cover our national treasure in the White House.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/letter_from_america/1190410.stm
"And then only days later we heard that the Clintons had walked off with something like $190,000-worth of White House furniture."
Just how can we trust the Clintons with our nation? The illegal campaign donations from the Chinese? Lincoln Bedroom for rent to big donors? The loss of our satellites and missile guidance secrets to China during the Clinton administration?
Thanks to Bill Clinton! Now China can shoot down our satellites any time.
You won't be able to watch CNN. Our forces won't be able to see where the enemies are without those eyes in space. Are you going to bring the Clintons back for more damage to our national security?
I find it so curious when Hillary won in New Hampshire – the news reported she sqeaked by Obama. In Iowa, she was a lagging 3rd and gonna be out according to the media when in reality Edwards just barely passed her.
Everyday the news has to have at least one negative Hillary story.
What was Obamas negative story today????? Well you can easily make them up just like you do for Hillary.
You guys are so freakin unfair it is not even funny.
the world is fallin apart people – dont pick someone you wanna go to a basketball game with (cause you never will) pick someone that truly has experience. He has so little experience. I fear for our country if he wins – but I know the republicans will win if he gets the demo nom.
Dont waste your vote on Obama – vote Hillary and give the Dems a chance.
the world needs a president in office that feasr GOD AND PUTS GOD FIRST. THE BEST PERSON TO VOTE FOR IS HILLARY CLITON
Notice, I am from MI. Most everyone I know who is democrat is going for the uncommitted vote. One, we like Obama. Hillary has proved time and time again that she is fed by the lobbiest and special interest. When her hubby started being pals with daddy Bush they both started turning my stomach. Hillary and Bill are Washington in every way and in Michigan we want change. We want honesty back in the White House and we do not want anyone that was born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
I am saying my prayers that our uncommitted vote can beat her!!!!!!!
I wish i lived in Michigan just to I could vote uncommitted.
RON PAUL 08
Hillary has played by the rules, as always, and will do fine in Michigan. I think the voters there will do their homework, learn about the positions and relevant experience (or lack thereof) of each candidate, and choose their candidates accordingly. I think they will, as the New Hampshire voters did, vote for substance over hype.
LEAVE HILLARY ALONE! The media, polls, and commentators must feel like fools by predicting that Hillary would lose by double digits. They all have their tails tucked between their legs now while they are licking their wounds! We already have a person in the white house who is inexperience! Why would you want to put another one in like Obama? And if Hillary does win, You can join in with the mention above!!! Good wound licking!!!! Go, Hillary!
vote for Hussein Obama
ANYBODY BUT CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!