Democrat decision puts Obama ahead

Barack Obama has benefited from a committee decision in the race for presidential nominee

Sunday, 01, Jun 2008 12:00

Barack Obama has received a boost in the Democratic race for presidential nominee after an irregularity in the timing of the primary elections.

A sectarian committee meeting discussed the procedures in the light of two of the 'primary' contests not being held in the correct sequence, and adjudicated that the delegates from Michigan and Florida would only have half voting rights.

The net result of the delegate votes only counting for half their value is that Senator Clinton, who received more votes than Obama in both the Primary contests, has lost influence at the August delegate meeting which will endorse the Democratic choice of nominee.

The deal gives Clinton a net gain of 24 pledged delegates, leaving her 171.5 behind Obama. He needs fewer than 70 to win the nomination.

Harold Ickes, one of the Clinton's advisors told Bloomberg newswire that there could be a challenge to the ruling, saying that: "Hijacking four [Michigan] delegates, notwithstanding the flawed aspect of this, is not a good way to start down the path of party unity."

Barack Obama, who is in South Dakota campaigning for the latest primary contest, said: "Now that Michigan and Florida have been added, we are getting close to the number that will give us the nomination."

He then added: "Many members of the Florida and Michigan delegations feel satisfied that the decision was fair."