While in Bend, Oregon, Democratic co-frontrunner Senator Barack Obama of Illinois addressed the issue of the Michigan and Florida contests. It is highly likely that Obama will become the eventual Democratic nominee. However, co-frontrunner Senator Hillary Clinton of New York is still in the race and has refused to drop out.
Obama addressed a question on if he would cede a state to Clinton. He answered by saying: “I love Florida, I love Michigan the people of Michigan and Florida, they will be represented at the convention, their delegates will be seated, and we will figure out a way where they are fully participating in the process.”
At the same time, Obama defended his opposition to letting the voters re-vote. Obama said that when the race started, neither he nor Clinton was supposed to campaign in Florida and Michigan. He said that he took his name off the Michigan ballot because he was not supposed to campaign in that state.
What Obama said had reinforced DNC Chair Howard Dean’s stance on the issue. While a compromise is being talked out, Dean said that the other forty-eight states must be respected for playing by the rules. If short, they have said in their own ways that it has to be fair.
Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates by holding their primaries too early in violation of DNC rules. Clinton had won both contests. However, neither of the wins had countered in the delegate race.
In that regard, while Obama opposes a re-vote, he said that this issue will get resolved. Dean said that this issue will be resolved by the end of May. Clinton and her campaign have tried to get those two victories counted.
Still, Clinton is not out of the picture yet.