By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Mark Penn has been an albatross across the neck of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Today he does it again:

Here is what Penn said. . . ."Obama "really can't win the general election." As you'll hear, he also says that "if Barack Obama can't win" in Pennsylvania, "how could he win the general election?"

Later, a reporter asks what he meant. Clinton campaign communications chief Howard Wolfson jumps in to say that "Mark did not say that." Then Penn says that if Obama doesn't win the Pennsylvania primary, it "raises serious questions" about whether he can win the general election.

What do you think the solid Howard Wolfson thinks of Penn? Probably the same as I do, that Penn is a dope.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

Based on the lack of support the Clinton campaign has voiced for the Florida revote plan and its failure to propose, argue for or even discuss what to do about Florida and Michigan in concrete terms, it is my considered view that the Clinton campaign is not really interested in revotes in Florida and Michigan. Instead it appears that the Clinton camp merely wants to create some type of appearance issue against the Obama campaign.

It is foolish and it is wrong of the Clinton campaign to do this. Foolish because without revotes in Florida and Michigan, neither state will be perceived as a true win for Clinton and the popular votes cast will not be considered seriously in the popular vote calculation. These are two essential ingredients, imo, for a Clinton victory narrative.

More . . .

Via the AP:

The head of Florida's Democratic Party said Thursday the proposed vote-by-mail presidential primary is unlikely to go forward because of strong opposition and concerns about conducting the vote.

[Karen]Thurman will review comments from Democratic leaders and make a decision by Monday on whether to proceed with the re-vote. But she acknowledged that Obama has had concerns and the Democratic National Committee won't support a proposal unless both candidates also back it. She said there's a serious question over whether the state could legally verify the signatures of a privately run election. "If this becomes something that we can't do, then we can't do it," Thurman said.

One added note: This is not an open thread. Comments not related to the revote and Florida primary will be deleted.

By Big Tent Democrat

I was never good at math, but I think Andrew Sullivan and Mark Schmitt have a math problem here:

[I]t will take a colossal victory, almost 60%, for Clinton to get a 200,000 vote edge out of Pennsylvania.

Clinton won by 228,000 votes in Ohio with a 10 point margin. I presume that a 20 point win in Pennsylvania will likely produce a 450,000 margin at least for Clinton. Beware of candidate supporters and their math.

By Big Tent Democrat

A Marc Ambinder reader who purports (I do not question this, I simply can not confirm it) to be a former attorney in the DOJ Voting Rights Section says:

I was the DOJ attorney who discussed [allowing Internet voting] with the Michigan Democratic Party, reviewed the party's submission to DOJ, and recommended preclearance. DOJ approved the change and the state party's Internet voting in the 2004 primary election proceeded.

The do-over elections being discussed for Michigan and Florida would similarly be "changes affecting voting" since they would be new elections held on previously unscheduled election dates. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, these changes must be precleared by DOJ . . .

(Emphasis supplied.) More . . .

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

I have the utmost respect for Jeralyn's opposition to a Florida revote. But I think Jeralyn does not ask herself the real question we face now. To wit, the choice is between a revote and not seating the Florida delegation. The original Florida primary vote result will not be honored by the DNC. That is a fact. The choice now is between no Florida delegation and a Florida delegation chosen by a revote.

The plan submitted by the Florida Democratic Party is the only one being offered, the only one viable. It must be supported. Not seating a representative Florida (and Michigan) delegation will be disastrous for the Democratic Party's chances in those two states come November.

In my view, there is no choice. We must support the Florida revote plan.

NOTE- Comments closed.

The AP has released new delegate totals. As a result of New York and Colorado releasing final numbers, Obama's delegate lead is the same now as it was before Mississippi. Here's what happened:

Obama won 19 of the 33 delegates at stake Tuesday, according to the Associated Press tally, which gives him an overall lead, including superdelegates, of 111.

Clinton, however, eliminated Obama's gain from Mississippi when she picked up five delegates yesterday based on final results from the New York primary and the Colorado caucuses, both held Feb. 5.

Thus, Obama's gain from Mississippi is no more.

Update: Comments Over 200, thread now closed

Here it is (pdf.)

Thoughts? Mine are we don't need a revote. The DNC needs to lift its penalty against Florida, award the delegates and seat them in accordance with the Jan. 29 vote.

Floridians voted in record numbers, the parties were all on the ballot, everyone got to see and hear both candidates in televised debates and in the news. The Republican-dominated legislature forced the early date.

The DNC needs to admit it was wrong in assessing the penalty and lift it. If they don't, I'm concerned that Floridians will blame the Democratic party and sit out the November election.

Let's not hand the election to McCain. Let's skip the revote plan and award and seat the delegates according to the Jan. 29 record breaking primary vote.

Update: How Florida voted on Jan 29 is below the fold. Obama did dismally. It's obvious why he doesn't favor a recount.

Client Number 6 in SpitzerGate has been revealed. He's the richest man in England, the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor.

The Duke of Westminster, listed as the world's 46th richest person by Forbes magazine, hired four hookers over a six-week stretch in late 2006 and early last year, the News of the World reported last year.

Despite his incredible wealth, multi-billionaire Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor haggled with one of the Emperors Club girls for the cost of their date, according to the report.

He's described as one of Prince Charles' best friends and Prince William's godfather. A multi-billionaire, aside from his having haggled over price, he's said by one of the call girls to be "dull and demanding.

And here's the 22 year old Kristen, whose apartment in the Flatiron District of Manhattan tonight is under seige by the media : [more...]

By Big Tent Democrat

More thread.

(Comments now closed.)

By Big Tent Democrat

Your turn. Open Thread. Play nice. Hasta luego.

NOTE -Comments closed.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

. . . Hillary Clinton says:

Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that she would favor restaging the Florida and Michigan primaries, if the Democratic national Committee continues to insist that primaries' original results won't be counted.

. . .[S]he added that if the Democratic National Committee continues to insist that the delegates from those states not be seated at the party's convention this summer, then the primaries should be held again. "In my view there are two options: Honor the results or hold new primary elections,'' Clinton said. She said she hoped rival Barack Obama's campaign would join her "in working to make that happen.''

While Barack Obama, his NBC network and his MSNBC news anchor are more concerned with holding a Sorrow and Pity Party, some of us are thinking about the voters in Florida and Michigan.

Please note that the votes of the people of Florida and Michigan is a big joke for Obama's newscaster. Remember this when he intones serious and sorrowful in his Special Comment. Obama's own Bill O'Reilly.

I'm watching Olbermann, and I have to say, he is rather incoherent. Not even offensive, sexist or insulting. Just sort of rambling and incoherent. My honest take. Maybe it got blue pencilled or something. I have a hard time following what he is trying to say.

Update (TL): Comments now closed, over 200.