Clinton presses for Mich., Fla. votes

HILLSBORO, Oregon (AP) — Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday strengthened her pitch to allow disputed primaries in Michigan and Florida to be counted in the nominating contest, noting the vote totals had been officially recognized in each state.

“Some say their votes should be ignored and the popular vote in Michigan and Florida should be discounted. Well, I have a different view,” Clinton said at a rally here. “The popular vote in Florida and Michigan has already been counted. It was determined by election results, it was certified by election officials in each state, it’s been officially tallied by the secretary of state in each state, and the question is whether those 2.3 million Democrats will be honored and their delegates seated by the Democratic party.”

Both the Michigan and Florida primaries were essentially nullified after they were moved into January in violation of national Democratic Party rules. The party voted to strip both states of their delegates and all the candidates, including Clinton and rival Barack Obama, signed a pledge not to campaign in either state.

Obama and several other Democratic candidates also removed their names from the Michigan primary ballot.

Both states saw record turnout in their primaries and the former first lady won both contests. Her campaign has pressed hard for the results to be recognized, even as the Obama campaign has argued Clinton is trying to circumvent rules she agreed to long ago.

Clinton’s latest comments came a day after Michigan Democrats announced there would be no do-over of that state’s Jan. 15 primary, vastly dimming Clinton’s chances of catching rival Obama in the popular vote and in pledged delegates. Democrats in Florida had already announced there would be no revote there.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has been conferring with party leaders in both states, hoping to find a way to seat their delegations. The Obama campaign has proposed a 50-50 split of both states’ delegations, an option Clinton advisers have resisted.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton dismissed Clinton’s latest call to recognize Florida and Michigan’s results.

“Senator Clinton herself said these contests ‘didn’t count for anything.’ But now that it serves her own political self-interest, she’s trying to change the rules. ...”