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Democrats deal severe blow to Clinton campaign

Congregation member Bertha Salva, second right, cheers during a speech by Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton at the Congregation Mita en Aaron Protestant Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

The Democratic Party has restored the states of Michigan and Florida to its presidential convention with only half of their voting power, dealing a severe blow to Senator Hillary Clinton ahead of yesterday's primary in Puerto Rico.

The decision took Senator Barack Obama, 46, two giant strides closer to making history as the first black presidential nominee.

The Florida and Michigan compromise saw delegates apportioned to both candidates and scuppered Clinton’s hopes of making a significant dent in her rival’s formidable delegate lead.

The decision raised the finish line for the Democratic nominating contest to 2,118 delegates, with Clinton gaining a net 24 delegates from Saturday’s two-state compromise.

That means that on the eve of the Puerto Rico vote, Obama was within 66 delegates of the target. Two more primaries in Montana and South Dakota will be held tomorrow.

A total of 86 pledged delegates are on offer in the territory of Puerto Rico and the two states. There are nearly 200 “super-delegates” or top party officials, also yet to declare their allegiance.

Puerto Rico will award 55 pledged delegates to the convention and Clinton is leading Obama in the territory 55 percent to 42 percent, a Washington Post poll said.

Saturday’s meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws panel was called to rule on the fates of Florida and Michigan, which broke party rules by holding their primary votes in January.

Clinton won both unofficial contests, though neither candidate campaigned in Florida and Obama was not on the ballot on Michigan.

Top Clinton aide Harold Ickes complained the committee hijacked delegates from Clinton in Michigan and said the campaign may challenge the state ruling.

“Mrs Clinton has instructed me to reserve her rights to take this to the credentials committee,” Ickes said.

Clinton will get 69 delegates in Michigan, who will each only have half a vote in nominating the party’s presidential nominee.

Obama will get 59 delegates, who will also have half a vote under the plan.

In Florida, Clinton will get 52.5 delegates to Obama’s 33.5.

Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe said he was “extremely gratified” at the decision.

Also See: Obama quits long-time church
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