Michigan and Florida Have Democrats in a State

Granholm's comment instantly deflated hopes in Michigan of finding a solution, barely a day after expressions of optimism. "That took the oxygen out of the room," said one Democrat in the middle of the discussions, who talked about the deliberations on the condition of anonymity. "I'm regrouping."

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wrote to Dean yesterday urging the national party to underwrite the cost of a new primary in Florida. But Dean said the DNC needs its money for a general-election campaign against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and he threw the issue back to the states. Nelson and Dean spoke late yesterday with no resolution, although Dean pointed out that the Florida party can raise soft money -- large contributions that the national party no longer can legally solicit.

The Democrats find themselves struggling with this problem because of jealousies and competition among the states over the timing of their nominating contests. Michigan Democrats, led by Sen. Carl M. Levin, have long objected to what they consider the privileged positions given to Iowa and New Hampshire, states that traditionally vote first. Florida Republicans wanted their state's primary to become the premier early Southern contest.

When the two states decided to move their primaries to January, they were punished by both national committees. Republicans stripped them of half their delegates; Democrats barred them from the convention entirely.

After that decision, Clinton, Obama and the other Democratic candidates pledged not to campaign in either state, in deference to party rules and as a way to curry favor with voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early-voting states.

Obama and other Democratic candidates asked that their names be removed from the Michigan ballot, leaving only Clinton's on it. Both Clinton and Obama were on the Florida ballot, but neither campaigned in the state.

Months ago, few Democrats worried about solving the issue, assuming that the eventual nominee would agree to seat the delegations. Now, with the nomination potentially in the balance, a resolution may be far more difficult to find.