NH asked all candidates to remove their names from the MI ballot. Obama agreed, Hilliary would not.

[Hamlette]

In an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio last fall, Clinton explained why she was the only candidate who did not agree to New Hampshire's request that she take her name off the ballot in Michigan.

"It's clear: This election they're having is not going to count for anything. I personally did not think it made any difference whether or not my name was on the ballot," she said.

But with New Hampshire in her rear view mirror, Clinton decided Michigan's election should count and so should Florida's. Before the Democratic National Committee sanctioned them, the two states had a combined 366 delegates. Clinton, who won a majority in both state contests, now wants them to count.

The day before the Florida, primary she told her supporters, "I want the voters in Florida to know that I hear them."

"Hundreds of thousands of Floridians have already voted, so clearly they are taking this seriously, and they believe their voices are going to be heard and should be counted, and I agree with them," she said.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19188859

(someone posted this in a thread yesterday but I don't know how many people saw it so I "gave" it its own thread)

Wonder how the NH dems feel now?

(edited to reflect the fact that Dodd and others left their names on the ballot too. Which is not the point. The point is, Hillary said MI would not count for anything.)

[rateyes]

1. Aaaarrrrrgggggghhhhhhh.

She is really becoming insufferable.

[Hamlette]

3. yeah, I was curious and then shocked at how/why the names were all off the ballot

I'm curious thought, why didn't NH ask them to take their names off the FL ballot? Anyone know?

[hogwyld]

11. According to FL law, you can only remove your name

from the ballot if you drop out of the race completely, meaning your name wouldn't be on the November ballot.

[Hamlette]

15. ah, thanks for the info.

[papau]

32. And Clinton's name was not only one in Mich - only Obama broke pledge - campaigned for "uncommitted"

[KSinTX]

37. Stunning! Please give me that link

you know, the one where Sen. Barack Obama campaigned for the uncommitted vote. Thanks

[rinsd]

48. Here

is the script of the John and Monica Conyers radio ad, which will be broadcast on Detroit-area stations. Monica Conyers is president pro-tem of the Detroit City Council.

MALE: THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS CONFUSING. I WANT TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA BUT OBAMA'S NAME IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

FEMALE: THERE IS NO ONE ON THAT BALLOT I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT.

MALE: WELL, THESE FOLKS CAN HELP US. EXCUSE ME, CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

FEMALE: HOW CAN WE VOTE FOR OBAMA ON TUESDAY?

Rep. Conyers: YOU CAN'T. YOU CANNOT EVEN WRITE IN OBAMA'S NAME. IF YOU DO YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT BECAUSE OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN CHOSE NOT TO PLACE HIS NAME ON THE MICHIGAN BALLOT SO AS NOT TO VIOLATE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES. BUT YOU CAN VOTE UNCOMMITTED

Councilwoman Conyers: IF AT LEAST 15% OF THE PEOPLE VOTE UNCOMMITTED, THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST SEND THAT PERCENTAGE OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION UNCOMMITTED.

Rep. Conyers: MY WIFE AND I ARE VOTING UNCOMMITTED. WE WILL WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES GO TO THAT CONVENTION TRULY UNCOMMITTED SO THAT OBAMA CAN COMPETE FOR THEIR VOTE.

MALE: THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS. I WILL JOIN YOU AND VOTE UNCOMMITTED ON TUESDAY.

FEMALE: ME TOO - AT LEAST MY VOTE WON'T BE WASTED

Councilwoman Conyers: THIS TRUTH IN POLITICS MESSAGE WAS PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MONICA CONYERS

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/09/voters_face_confusion_in_michi.html

We did talk radio, hit the churches -- much like you would with a candidate, except the candidate is Uncommitted.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/michigan_clinto.html

Funny how the same people who are furious with Hillary for leaving her name on the MI ballot, have no problem with campaigning by surrogates for Obama.

[KSinTX]

65. Those are the Conyers ... you said Obama

Where is THAT link?

[rinsd]

71. Papau said Obama, not me.

I see little difference between a candidate's surrogates running a radio ad urging a candidates supporters to vote in a manner to support the candidate and the candidate's campaign doing so other than the latter being something you can't argue against as it is clear cut.

Hillary had some surrogates supporting her via interviews and such but they did not run any advertising.

[KSinTX]

75. You are surrogacy in action

You responded on behalf of Papau by providing a link I asked for in response to his/her post. You now say "Papau said Obama, not me". So in the process of knocking the very distinct delineation between surrogacy and first-person behavior, you behaved as a surrogate and further express the very distance that actually exists between the agent and the surrogate.

[wileedog]

42. How do you campaign for "Uncommited?"

What the hell does that even mean?

No one campaigned in MI at all, and certainly not for an adjective.

[rinsd]

46. Radio ads and various rallies.

This is the script of the John and Monica Conyers radio ad, which will be broadcast on Detroit-area stations. Monica Conyers is president pro-tem of the Detroit City Council.

MALE: THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS CONFUSING. I WANT TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA BUT OBAMA'S NAME IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

FEMALE: THERE IS NO ONE ON THAT BALLOT I WANT TO BE PRESIDENT.

MALE: WELL, THESE FOLKS CAN HELP US. EXCUSE ME, CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

FEMALE: HOW CAN WE VOTE FOR OBAMA ON TUESDAY?

Rep. Conyers: YOU CAN'T. YOU CANNOT EVEN WRITE IN OBAMA'S NAME. IF YOU DO YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT BECAUSE OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN CHOSE NOT TO PLACE HIS NAME ON THE MICHIGAN BALLOT SO AS NOT TO VIOLATE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES. BUT YOU CAN VOTE UNCOMMITTED

Councilwoman Conyers: IF AT LEAST 15% OF THE PEOPLE VOTE UNCOMMITTED, THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST SEND THAT PERCENTAGE OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION UNCOMMITTED.

Rep. Conyers: MY WIFE AND I ARE VOTING UNCOMMITTED. WE WILL WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES GO TO THAT CONVENTION TRULY UNCOMMITTED SO THAT OBAMA CAN COMPETE FOR THEIR VOTE.

MALE: THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN CONYERS AND COUNCILWOMAN CONYERS. I WILL JOIN YOU AND VOTE UNCOMMITTED ON TUESDAY.

FEMALE: ME TOO - AT LEAST MY VOTE WON'T BE WASTED

Councilwoman Conyers: THIS TRUTH IN POLITICS MESSAGE WAS PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MONICA CONYERS

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/09/voters_face_confusion_in_michi.html

By Sasha Issenberg, Globe Staff

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. � As Michigan Democrats go to the polls today, a Detroit consultant working to keep down Hillary Clinton�s share of the vote -- her only competition on the ballot is �Uncommitted� -- says the results should be seen as a referendum on her campaign�s handling of racial issues.

�If the Clintons don�t get at least 60 percent of the vote, I think it would be a total rejection of her candidacy,� said Sam Riddle, an adviser to Detroit city councilwoman Monica Conyers.

Conyers and her husband John, a U.S. congressman � both backing Obama -- taped radio ads urging voters for �Uncommitted,� which has become a consensus alternative for supporters of Obama and John Edwards. Riddle said a weeklong back-and-forth between the Obama and Clinton camps over the legacy of the civil-rights movement and Obama�s own drug use will galvanize black voters in the urban centers of eastern Michigan to deliver a no-confidence vote to Clinton.

�That type of stuff has no place in the campaign but it shows the Clinton desperation,� Riddle said. �They�re demeaning Obama and folks in Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Pontiac don�t like it one bit.�

With the campaigns respecting a Democratic National Committee boycott of the primary, the election-day ground game has become a proxy war between local supporters. Clinton has some of the state�s most prominent elected officials working on her behalf, including Governor Jennifer Granholm and Senator Debbie Stanbenow.

��Uncommitted� does not the get-out-the-vote apparatus that the Clintons have,� Riddle said. �We did talk radio, hit the churches -- much like you would with a candidate, except the candidate is �Uncommitted.��

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/michigan_clinto.html

[wileedog]

56. I stand corrected, but seriously...

that is one of the worst ads in political history. You really think that had much sway in convincing people to show up at the polls and vote for "Nobody" in an election that doesn't count?

Is that your argument that these results should count 'as is'?

[rinsd]

58. I don't think MI or FL should be a factor in decidning the nomination.

Though I expect the nominee to seat them.

I also do not think you can include MI in the "popular vote" argument though you can make the case for FL as a straw poll.

I am just tired of people trying to rewrite history.

[wileedog]

61. Well thanks for setting me straight then :)

I missed this, and I appreciate your efforts.

[rinsd]

64. The rewriting history jab was not at you.

I understand not everyone knows the little intricacies of this.

But I have had this argument so many times since Oct, I think I know it fairly cold.

[KSinTX]

67. Dupe

of sorts.

[KSinTX]

69. Conyers do not equal Obama

They are supporters, the upthread post states OBAMA campaigned. He did not. Hence the allegation is false. Both candidates had surrogates and grassroots campaigners, they just could not sponsor or fund those efforts. To say otherwise would be to deny individual freedom of speech.

[rinsd]

72. We're talking about a radio ad, not interviews or grassroots.

[KSinTX]

76. Just as candidates don't control the content of 527s

they do not control private individuals who choose to run ads separately of a campaign. This is, after all, America, where if you've got the bucks you can go buy air time.

[rinsd]

79. C'mon now. You're not naive enough believe that 527s are wholly separate from campaigns.

Or that long standing allies and surrogates promoting a candidate completely on their own.

[KSinTX]

82. Wink, wink ... let's you and me agree

that whatever horrid thing that comes out of some vile-spewing non-affiliated freelancer is indeed the inner workings of the official campaign. Surrogates are indeed fun, aren't they? I love that long-standing allies who breach the bounds of ethics get full play. Wow. Not unlike the doofas who tried to bribe the Young Democrats. Where I was unwilling to give that surrogate any standing in the Clinton campaign, you've given me license to just slam the ethics of that move. Thanks for the lesson in naivete.

[rinsd]

83. Which would make sense if the examples discussed were nonaffiliated freelancers.

We know they are not.

And right or not, a candidate answers for the sins of his/her campaign and its allies.

Its not like Hillary hasn't been raked over the coals for various statements by people either affiliated with her campaign or known friends of the Clintons.

[KSinTX]

86. And yet you reply to reinforce my point. Thank you. nt

[Iceburg]

70. Obama was polling at < 23% in MI before the MI primary ....

removing his name gave him cover from a certain massive loss.

[rinsd]

74. Perhaps in Sept he was polling that low. But candidates took their names off in early Oct

[suston96]

49. "At all"? John Conyers campaigned in Michigan for Obama telling Obama supporters in Michigan....

...to vote "uncommitted". Remember?

[LisaM]

68. Asked them to vote ucommitted so that they could later vote for Obama

So, essentially, Obama campaigned in both Michigan and Florida; his supporters don't see it, and he'll get away with it. Business as usual.

What do the voters of Michigan and Florida owe NH anyway? (Though this does prove that candidates' taking their name off the ballot at all was done to placate the Iowa and New Hampshire voters, as has been pointed out before).

[rinsd]

73. Excellent point. Obama's treatment of the pledge pre- & post- IA & NH.

[rateyes]

19. Too late for FL law. nt

[rinsd]

27. Not too late. FL requires you sign an affadavit that you are out of the race completely.

[rinsd]

25. NH did not ask anyone to take their names off the ballot. It looks like sloppy journalism.

FL makes you sign an affadavit that you are out of the race completely in order to have your name removed.

But this is the 1st and seemingly only time I have seen (in my many many arguments over this issue) that removing their names from the ballot was a supposed NH Dem party request.

If that were actually true, she would have gotten her ass kicked for it and likely not won NH.

[Deep13]

4. What about that is wrong?

It's not like she promised to withdraw and did not. It's pretty hard to win an election without your name on the ballot. It was foolish for the others to put DNC rules ahead of state election laws and democracy generally.

[Hamlette]

10. is it your position that the party should have no rules on when a state holds its primary?

if a state choose to hold its primary in June of the year before, you'd be fine with that?

I personally think our elections go on too long and admire the party for trying to insure it doesn't get longer.

My objection, btw, is that Clinton said MI would not count and how she is saying it should count.

That's either lying or changing your position when it suits your aims.

I don't like those qualities in a politician.

[Romulox]

13. The "pledge" was NOT a DNC rule. It was a sop to NH, Ia

Setting aside for a moment whether "not participate" means "remove your name from the ballot" (a rather weak argument, imo.)

The four-state pledge was not required by the DNC or a DNC rule. It was entered into as a pander to Ia and NH, entered into voluntarily by the signatories precisely because winning one of these early states carries so much weight.

[Hamlette]

16. how'd that work for you this year?

seems to me the best/strongest candidates split those states

[gal]

54. But she did agree to it did she not?

[dchill]

28. "Becoming" insufferable? "Becoming"...?

This person has been insufferable for as long as I've been aware of her. Even when I thought I liked her, I sure couldn't defend her. And I think that "insufferable" is a polite way to put it. She's delusional.

[Skip Intro]

2. Uh, Dodd didn't remove his name either. The pledge didn't require a candidate to remove his/her name

And if Obama had won either of those states, I've no doubt we'd hearing a completely different chorus from the Obama crowd.

[Hamlette]

7. no, you would not be hearing a different chorus from Obama

because he ran a race he could win by playing by the rules.

Thanks for the info on Dodd. I knew someone else was on the ballot but had forgotten who.

I don't know why Dodd didn't remove his name.

But you have to admit, Obama has been more honest and honorable in this whole debate over MI regardless of who won.

She changed her position because it favors her.

Not what I want in a politician.

[rinsd]

26. Dodd did not remove his name because he saw it for what it was...a political stunt

Richardson got the balling rolling and the others jumped on board.

I seriously doubt that Dodd would ignore a request from the NH Dem party.

If NH had made a request, I also doubt Kucinich would have been so rushed in trying to get his paperwork in twice. Not that his campaign was a model of organization but the last second scramble after other candidates removed their names tells me he was caught unprepared.

[scheming daemons]

62. Then why did Hillary say "that election doesn't count for anything."

She agreed that Michigan's vote didn't count.


...until she needed it.

[rinsd]

78. I can't argue that. She has reversed course.

But let's not rewrite the events that did happen.

The NH party did not request candidates take their name off the ballot.

[Skip Intro]

30. Well, I can't agree with you there, because there was a real campaign in MI

against Hillary - the *uncommited* campaign. And I have to wonder who was really behind that.

I also think it very clear that he removed his name from the MI ballot in an effort to pander to Iowa, and to be able to claim that the contest wasn't fair since his name wasn't on the ballot.

I don't mean to go on and on, but Obama does change his positions based on the political climate, and for political reasons. He did it on the Iraq war in 2004, and admitted to Russert that he did so because we had Kerry and Edwards running and he therefore modified his position. I can get the link if you need it.

[scheming daemons]

63. Hillary: "The election (in Michigan) doesn't count for anything".

Who has changed their position based on the political climate?


Who??????

[stillcool]

90. so why did all the others remove their..

names from the ballot? The campaign to vote for uncommitted included all of them, no?

[Pathwalker]

5. Dodd, Kucinich, Gravel were also on my ballot.

Kucinich campaigned in Michigan. Facts don't mean much here, do they? Or was my county printing rogue ballots?

[Romulox]

6. To hell with NH. The Democratic Party needs to ditch minority rule, or else

change the name of the party.

There is no way tiny, Republican-voting, lily-white states should decide the Democratic nominee, year-after-year-after-year-after...

[SIMPLYB1980]

9. Yep because us lily-white people are oh just so racist.

:sarcasm:

[Romulox]

12. I don't care what you are. Democracy is 1 person = 1 vote

There is no room for NH voters to be treated as more important than Michigan voters in a modern, enlightened Democracy.

NH's unearned privilege needs to be tossed into the dustbin, along with poll taxes, 3/5 representation, and Chicago-style politics. It is an anachronism that is entirely unjustifiable in the modern world that values diversity and self-determination.

[Hamlette]

14. primaries have nothing to do with democracy....its representation

you are voting by your party's rules.

If anything, this year proves NH does not choose the presidential candidate for the dem party.

At least not any more.

I think the way it was done this year, had FL and MI followed the rules, was great.

We have a few states early on who got to know the candidates then a couple of weeks later a whole bunch of states got to vote.

I liked it.

[Romulox]

18. Any party that I support will surely be based on the concept of 1 person = 1 vote

I don't have the *right* to vote in a primary, just like the DNC doesn't have the *right* to the electors from my state.

[Dumak]

22. What should be changed

A few early elections is a good idea - it helps get candidates with lower name recognition into the news. They should have a few early elections, but not single states - each election should have a few states each with different character. Each spaced at least 2 weeks apart so there is plenty of time to debate and create opportunities for the people to learn about them. Then there should be a final election with all remaining states. Eliminate all these smaller trailing elections, and eliminate early voting.

[FlaGranny]

34. Actually, general elections are

"representation" also. We do not a have a democracy, we have a representative democracy, i.e., republic. It took me a long time to get that through my head. It is not one person, one vote for the candidate. It is one person, one vote for the delegate or for the member of the electoral college, who, in turn, votes for the candidate. It seems this is a concept foreign to many Americans, but since this nation WAS a nation, that's the way it's been. I vaguely remember being taught this in high school history, but it didn't sink in much at the time.

[Romulox]

40. Nice try, but the current system is not 1 person = 1 vote for a delegate, either

Some states clearly have been awarded disproportionate influence in the selection of delegates by the current process. Setting aside the issue of apportionment and caucus vs. primary, 2 states have been granted perpetual "first" status in the nominating process. These two states swear up and down that being first does not matter, while fighting tooth and nail to preserve this unearned privilege...

[FlaGranny]

81. I did not mean 1 vote - 1 representative.

I guess I didn't word that too well. More clearly, each person votes and each vote is counted toward the number of delegates that will be chosen for each state. As far as the party rules go, well, they're party rules and they are legal. I don't much like them either, but they won't be changed unless Democrats change them. There's only one way to do that and that is to get involved and work for it. If I had my way, we'd have a nationwide primary (the way the general election is done) after a period of campaigning for several months. Then I'd have another election about a month later for the top 3 vote getters, and then maybe even a third election for the top 2 to get to the final choice. Seems like a nice way to run the general too. I think the Republican primary system is even worse than the Dems.

[Romulox]

85. Each vote is not counted equally with regard to the awarding of delegates

The issue of representative democracy just removes the issue by one degree; still, we are talking about a situation in which a person voting in one states counts less than a person voting in another state, both in terms of the number of choices they have and in the timing and weight of their vote.

[FlaGranny]

92. Nope, they're not.

They're counted as prescribed by the Democratic party.

[bunnies]

17. To Hell with NH?

Guess youre not a Hillary supporter. NH saved her campaign this year. Oh well.

[Romulox]

20. The tiny states made sure the MOST CONSERVATIVE candidates were put through

This isn't about HRC; I'm sick of choosing from a field "winnowed" by right-leaning voters in states that go for the Republicans every four years. :hi:

[bunnies]

31. Kerry won NH in 2004.

And Obama will win NH this time. We're going blue baby! :hi:

[Romulox]

38. Saints be praised! All 3 of the other early states went for W. nt

[bunnies]

59. AND... both of our Repub House Members were ousted,

Dems took control of the state congress. And this time... Sununu is out on his repub senator ass. Imagine... a Dem Senator from NH! I never thought I'd see the day! :bounce:

Its gonna be a good year for Dem gains here... finally.

[Romulox]

21. Just to amplify: NH was able to extort this pledge precisely because of its unearned privilege

[bunnies]

33. And chances of NH ever changing our state constitution...

to remove the part about holding the first primary is Zero. However unfair. There is no way the state is ever going to give up the revenue the primary brings in.

[Romulox]

36. Well, then I expect you will face similar sanctions in 2012.

No way in hell is this going to go unchanged for 2012. Your constitution isn't binding on the rest of us.

[bunnies]

55. You're probably right.

But our leaders have already signaled that we'll vote first... delegates or not. However, I dont see NH making it a huge issue the way FL has. I think its a trade off most who live here are willing to make.

[Debi]

23. Hey, bunnies, we'll go with you

funny how the 'working class white folks' in Iowa are ignored in this march to the nomination - even though we were the first to go for Obama. oh, wait, Iowa doesn't count. x(

[bunnies]

29. I'll bring the margarita supplies!

Any other states coming along? I spose I'll have to bring enough for the caucus states too. What a party we'll have! :hi:

[Debi]

35. Nevada and South Carolina

All the other caucus states (except Texas and Washington if you only count their primaries).

And probably Oregon and their crazy 'mail in' scheme that got Obama the win there (although not very widely reported - shhhhh - Oregon has 'working class white people too' :toast:

Gonna get crowded!

[SIMPLYB1980]

8. LoL. Dod and Kucinich and Gravel left their names on the MI ballot.

[rinsd]

24. I call BS sloppy journalism. Not a single candidate mentioned NH's request when withdrawing

Obama's campaign cited their own interpretation of the pledge as their reasoning.

This is the 1st time I have seen this mentioned and I can find no other reference to NH making a request.

[KSinTX]

39. NH Union-Leader Oct. 2007

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Mich.+ballot+controversy+needles+Clinton&articleId=27e3929b-0e08-4414-a325-e69ec653974d

[Botany]

41. Freaking Hillary only cares about Hillary

Mich. ballot controversy needles Clinton
By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007


The controversy over Hillary Clinton's refusal to remove her name from the Michigan Democratic
presidential ballot continues to steam in New Hampshire and beyond, with two top state Democrats
coming to her defense.

[rinsd]

44. Thanks for the backup!

"Obama campaign co-chair Ned Helms, who is also a former state Democratic chairman, asked current party chair Ray Buckley on Wednesday to send to all Democratic State Committee members his emailed request that they urge Clinton "to fulfill her pledge by pursuing every available legal means to have her name removed from the primary ballot." But yesterday, Buckley said he would not forward the email because the state party does not send out emails critical of any candidate. Buckley said the party would provide Helms with mailing labels for all state committee members so he can mail his request himself. Helms said he was unsure if he will take Buckley up on the offer."

[SoxFan]

47. Buckley is a Clinton supporter

FYI

[rinsd]

50. so IOW, the NH Dem party did NOT ask the candidates to remove their name from the MI ballot.

Also this "request" by an Obama supporter came AFTER the deadline for removing one;s name from the MI ballot.

[KSinTX]

51. My pleasure

I just am tired of revisionist history in light of its dangers (particularly as highlighted through eight years of Bush).
:toast:

[rinsd]

53. Agreed.

I understand people's anger at Hillary switching her position in terms of having MI & FL count towards the nomination. In many ways I agree with them.

But let's not rewrite history to present a clear good vs evil narrative.

[Hamlette]

91. yeah, I hate it too. Clinton should stick to her guns. MI and FL don't count for anything. n/t

[mkultra]

43. she agreed not to particpate

On that premise , she should have removed.

[rinsd]

45. By that reasoning Obama should not have run his national TV ads.

But Iowa and New Hampshire had already voted, so the pledge lost its meaning to him.

[scheming daemons]

66. There's no way to run an ad on a national network that only plays in 48 states....

It's not possible.

[rinsd]

80. He could have waited a few days until after the election.

Neither Edwards nor Clinton had a national ad campaign planned so it not like he was under the gun.

The difference is clear

Before IA & NH voted, he felt he had to take the drastic measure of removing his name from the MI ballot.

After they voted, he felt it was ok to have surrogates do radio ads urging his supporters to vote uncommitted and runs a national ad campaign that show in FL.

Yes I am aware that he asked permission from the SC Dem party head but that just shows the contrast in his actions before & after IA & NH voted.

[mkultra]

87. The ad only played in a couple of regions in northern FL

As opposed to Hillary who flew into FL beforehand.

She should have taken her name off the ballot in MI like she agreed.

[suston96]

52. "NH asked all candidates to remove their names from the MI ballot. "

So one state can dictate how other states run their elections? That's cool! Is this a great country, or what?

[AZ Criminal JD]

57. No where in the article is there any proof that NH made this request

There is no source whatsoever. The author just states it without any reference. Are they talking about the state? About the party? What is the source? More made-up stuff.

[rinsd]

60. The "request" appears to be by Obama & Edward supporters in the NH Dem Party after the deadline

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6088233&mesg_id=6089495

[McCamy Taylor]

77. I wonder how Mi and Fl feel about NH.

[stillcool]

88. 2 out of 50

suggests to me that the 2 don't much care about any of the other 48 states.

[MonkeyFunk]

84. Well

you have a reference to somebody saying New Hampshire asked them.

Who asked, exactly? When? Do you have a reference to that event?

and what weight would such a request carry?

[OzarkDem]

89. NH needs to mind their own business

The Dem party needs to be strong in all 50 states, not just the east and west coasts.