Florida offered a compromise where by the beauty contest known as the primary was used as the basis to allot their pledged delegates, 52.5 to 34.5 (but under a 1/2 vote basis including their superdelegates). Only Senator Nelson objected to his vote being reduced by 1/2 vote but that was rejected and their plan was approved by 100% in a committee vote.
Michigan was more complicated as even the Michigan leaders admitted since the entire primary was flawed due to Obama and all the others removal of their name on the ballot leaving only Clinton. Eventually the Michigan delegation offered a compromise of 69-59 to Clinton (and then penalizing the non compliant primary by allocating 1/2 votes for all of the delegation). All told Obama lost 2.5 votes from another plan of apportioning the delegation to 50/50 split and Clinton lost 2.5 votes if they used strictly the vote of Clinton and uncommitted. Here Clinton is threatening to go to the Convention floor in a credentials fight to try to gain those 2.5 votes and strip Obama of his 29.5.On Thursday and Friday the Obama campaign continued to gain endorsementsGail Rasmussen (DNC-OR), a pair of DNC committee persons from Texas, Boyd and Betty Richie (DNC-TX) and Rep. Alan Monohan (D-WV). Clinton picked up a pair of DNC members, Buddy Leach (DNC-LA) and Eileen Macoll (DNC-WA). All told including the 5 Floridian and 5 Michigan superdelegates places the Obama campaign at 328.5 to Clinton's 290, ( a lead of 38.5). Obama's current hard count delegate count is 2052, 65 short of the 2117, that is now the hard finish line for the nomination. Clinton currently stands at 1876.5, 175.5 behind Obama. from individual superdelegates (4-2), )
Today Puerto Rico votes where Clinton is expected to win but look for the Obama campaign to pick up a minimum of 20 pledged delegates and possibly 22-23. Axelrod predicted 25 back in January. Also today expect Obama to pick up at least two superdelegates from Maine's State Convention (one Add-On) and probably another committee person, maybe all three. All told this will reduce the magic number to between 40-42 delegates. On Tuesday the campaign expects to gain 19-20 pledged delegates from SD and MT's primaries, bringing the number down to 22-19.
Watch as on Monday that the Congressional delegation where many superdelegates who remain uncommitted will endorse Obama to the tune of 22 to more likely 25-30 and set up the Montana primary as the crescendo ending of the nomination process, allowing Obama to give a national winner speech on TV.
What to look forward to: My best guess is that Obama will offer Clinton the VP spot but under unacceptable conditions, not an active cabinet role et cetera...etc... Clinton will have no choice but to decline, but there will be another side deal for the show, something like the Senate Majority Leader or Supreme Court appointment. There Obama will be able to unite the party under his terms.
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