Democrats Strip Michigan of Delegates

Alexis Herman, right, co-chair of the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee, leads discussions to censure Michigan's delegates to next summer's nominating convention in the wake of their plan to move up the Michigan primary to Jan. 15, 2008, at the DNC fall meeting in Vienna, Va., Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007. At left is committee co-chair James Roosevelt. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite - AP)

"While we may not like the rules, if we don't respect the rules, then we are going to have chaos," said committee member Yvonne Gates of Nevada.

Both political parties have been struggling to control their chaotic calendars.

The Republicans have stripped half the delegates from New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Wyoming for scheduling early primaries and caucuses. Republican rules don't allow any states to hold nominating contests before Feb. 5.

The Republicans, however, haven't set any restrictions on campaigning in states that violate party rules. That has some Democrats concerned that they could lose votes in Florida, the fourth largest state, and Michigan, the eighth largest.

Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler, a member of the rules panel, said stripping the delegates from Michigan and Florida _ and prohibiting candidates from campaigning there during the primaries _ will hurt party-building efforts in those states.

Fowler also said that stripping the delegates was unnecessary, since many party insiders believe that the eventual nominee will have them restored at the convention.

"No one at this table believes that the delegates from Florida and Michigan will be absent from the convention," Fowler told the rules panel.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said in a statement: "The threat not to seat the delegates of Michigan and Florida at the Democratic convention is a hollow threat. They will be seated, and when they are, it will be plain for all to see that the privileged position that New Hampshire and Iowa have extracted through threats and pledges from candidates is on its last legs."

Under convention rules, a credentials committee controlled by the presidential candidate with the most delegates will verify the legitimacy of delegates.

With Florida and Michigan stripped of delegates, Democratic candidates will now need support from at least 2,026 delegates to secure the nomination.

The panel gave Michigan officials 30 days to change their minds and schedule a later vote, but Brewer said the state will stick with Jan. 15.

Debbie Dingell, a DNC member from Michigan, said the state party will work for the party's nominee, regardless of the delegate flap.

"Michigan will pull together," Dingell said. "We know how to fight."

With the DNC's work Saturday, the primary calendar appears to be set. The panel approved some final shifting of early contests, approving the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 8, and the South Carolina primary on Jan. 26. The Nevada caucuses had already been approved for Jan. 19. The panel also gave final approval for Massachusetts to move its primary from March 4 to Feb. 5.