With about 100 delegate votes separating the Democratic candidates, party leaders and the rival campaigns started searching in earnest on Thursday for a way to seat delegations from Florida and Michigan. But they remained deeply divided over how to do so.
Hillary Rodham Clinton won the most votes in primaries held in Florida and Michigan in January. But the states held their contests earlier than allowed by the Democratic National Committee's rules, leading the party to strip them of their delegates to the nominating convention. Neither candidate campaigned actively in the states, and Barack Obama was not on the ballot in Michigan.
The states, the party and the candidates have all suggested that they are open to another round of voting in those states, but much remains to be settled, including what kind of contests to hold, when to hold them, how to allocate the delegates and, critically, who picks up the multimillion-dollar tab.
Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic Party, said Thursday that it was up to the states, not the national party, to come up with a solution. But Dean ruled out seating the delegations based on the voting in January. "You can't change the rule in the middle of the game," he said on NBC's "Today."
He also said the national party won't pay for any new votes.
SUPER SHOWDOWN
Hillary Rodham Clinton won't catch Barack Obama in the race for Democratic delegates chosen in primaries and caucuses, even if she wins every remaining contest, according to an analysis by the Associated Press.
But Obama cannot win the nomination with just his pledged primary and caucus delegates either.
That sets the stage for a pitched battle for support among superdelegates, the party and elected officials who automatically attend the convention and can support whomever they choose.
