Obama Being Forced To Win By Three (while Clinton plans to challenge the magic number)

[berni_mccoy]

From DemConWatch: http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/obama-being-forced-to-win-by-3.html

With Al Wynn's resignation this weekend, there are 4,233 delegate votes. From MSNBC First Read:

OK. According to the DNC and MSNBC, Obama needs 2,118. But since there are only 4,233 delegate votes, that leaves 2,115 for Clinton. So instead of requiring Obama to win by the least margin possible, they are requiring him to win 2,118-2,115. That doesn't seem quite fair to us.

But some will say, well, OK, but it will be correct in a couple of weeks, when Edwards wins the Special Election, right?

Again, from MSNBC:

so we will keep the number at 2,118, which is what it will eventually be at convention.

Lets see. 4,234 votes. Half votes are pretty common now. Seems to me one could secure a majority with 2117.5 votes, winning 2117.5-2116.5. I guess the DNC is making Obama play by ping-pong rules - have to win by two: 2,118-2,116.

And the worst part? The Obama campaign is agreeing to this higher standard, saying it needs 2,118 to win. Maybe they'll also say they need 271 Electoral Votes to win the election. Who knows. It must be this "new math" stuff.

Oh. And we won't even go here.

If you follow that last link in their article, it takes you here: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/clinton-conside.html

Clinton Considering Challenging New Magic Number of Delegates
After she won Puerto Rico last night, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, was asked if she may challenge the new "magic number" of delegates the Democratic National Committee says is needed to clinch the nomination -- 2,118.

"That’s a question we’re going to be considering," Clinton said. "Because obviously I still believe, I was pleased that the electoral results of the primaries were accepted that was the basis for the decisions that were made which is something I've been arguing for months as you know. And I was also pleased that Florida was fully seated but the half vote penalty I think is unwarranted under the circumstances and I thought Michigan was in violation of the rules so we’re going to decide how to proceed and depending upon what the outcome of that decision is we will either mount a challenge or not but obviously it would have an impact on the number of delegates necessary to pledge the nomination."

All of which is to say - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, may reach 2,118 this week, but Clinton may assert that doesn't mean anything.

Fasten your seatbelts.

Well, all I can say is that I really hope she has returned to NY to resign and endorse Obama. If she doesn't and she carries this thing on, I think it will become a major problem for the party.

[gateley]

1. What is Clinton's magic number -- anybody know? Thanks. nt

[SoonerPride]

2. 4,233.

Obama has to claim every delegate or she wins.

[berni_mccoy]

4. It's actually 4417 total if FL and MI got full seating.

[berni_mccoy]

3. Clinton is hoping for the magic number that would give a full seating of both FL and MI: 2209.

[gateley]

7. Thanks. nt

[K Gardner]

5. I saw that posted at DemconWatch today. This just needs to stop.

[XemaSab]

6. Clinton's not going to get the rest of the unpledged superdelegates

AND look for her superdelegates, and even her elected delegates, to start flaking off.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Will I be TS'd if I mention suicide on DU?

Because I'm about ready to kill myself over this never-ending changing of the definition of when it will be over.