Michigan congressman proposes plan for seating state's delegates

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 31, 2008 at 1:13 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 31, 2008 at 3:52 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Michigan congressman proposed an alternate plan Monday for seating the state's delegates at the Democratic National Convention, awarding delegates based partly on Michigan's Jan. 15 primary results and partly on the popular vote in all the nation's presidential primaries.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., in a letter to DNC Chairman Howard Dean, proposed that Michigan's 83 pledged delegates be chosen at congressional district conventions according to the results of the state's primary.

The party stripped both Michigan and Florida of their national convention delegates because they moved their primaries to January dates that were earlier than party rules allowed.

Under Stupak's formula, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who received 55 percent of the primary vote, would receive 47 delegates.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who pulled his name from Michigan's ballot, would receive 36 delegates. Many Obama supporters in Michigan voted for "uncommitted," which received 40 percent in the primary.

The remaining 73 delegates would be awarded based on the percentage of the popular vote garnered nationwide by Clinton and Obama after the last Democratic presidential primary is completed.

"The last thing we want to do as Democrats is to disenfranchise voters," Stupak wrote in the letter to Dean. "I have heard from countless Democratic and independent voters who are frustrated and angry to think that their votes are being ignored."

Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said "we believe there should be a fair and equitable seating of the delegates, and have communicated directly with the Michigan Democratic Party that we would like to see a resolution soon."

Mo Elleithee, a Clinton spokesman, said many ideas have been floated "but we remain committed to the simplest one: Let democracy rule. Count the votes that were cast or hold new elections."

Stupak endorsed former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in the primary and has remained neutral since Edwards dropped out of the race in January.

Michigan and Florida have been unable to reach agreements to redo their primaries. Any alternative vote would have to be completed by June 10 to be counted under DNC rules.

Stupak said in an interview that a redo vote in Michigan was a "dead deal" and he hoped party leaders would support an alternative. He discussed his plan with Clinton and Obama supporters in Michigan.

In Florida, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who backs Clinton, has suggested seating all Florida delegates already chosen but only giving them half a vote each. Based on the Jan. 29 results in Florida, Clinton would have won 105, Obama 67 and John Edwards 13. Instead they would get half those delegate votes.

The Republican Party also penalized the two states for early primaries — by cutting their delegate totals in half.

Dean has said Michigan and Florida have two options: Either submit a new plan for choosing their convention delegates or appeal to the Convention Credentials Committee, which resolves issues about the seating of delegates.

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