PRESS RELEASE from the Democratic National Committee and STATEMENTS from the Clinton and Obama campaigns


For Immediate Release
May 31, 2008
 
Contact: Karen Finney/Stacie Paxton

DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee Reaches Agreement on Seating Florida and Michigan Delegations  

Washington, DC--Today, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Rules and Bylaws Committee Co-Chairs Alexis Herman and Jim Roosevelt issued the following joint statement:
 
"Today, after careful consideration and debate, the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee reached an agreement on the two challenges before the Committee on seating delegations from Florida and Michigan.  The Committee voted to seat the full Florida delegation with a half-vote each.  The RBC accepted the Michigan Leadership Plan as presented today by the Michigan Democratic Party with the exception that each delegate receives a half vote.  In addition, the Committee agreed that delegates from both states should be slated under Rules 5, 6, 7, and 12, outlining the candidate's right of approval.  With this decision, the revised total of delegate votes needed to secure the nomination is 2,118.
 
"This decision was not made easily or lightly but after listening to oral arguments made by the complainants, State Parties, and both presidential campaigns, we believe this to be the most fair and equitable solution allowed within the rules.  The Committee arrived at its decision with three basic principles in mind: One, that we must be fair to the voters in both states. Two, that we must be fair to both campaigns who abided by the rules in good faith and three, that we must be fair to the 48 states that followed the rules. 
 
"We believe today's decision is a step forward in unifying our Party as we work together to put a Democrat back in the White House so we can bring the Iraq War to a responsible end and get our economy back on track.  We want to thank all of today's presenters, members of the public - both those here today and the many others who have made their voices heard throughout the process, and supporters of both campaigns."   

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PRESS RELEASE from Hillary Clinton for President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2008

Contact: Press Office

Statement from The Clinton Campaign

Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy made the following statement this evening:

Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention.  The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.

We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.
 
The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.
 
We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast.

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STATEMENT from Obama for America
May 31, 2008

David Plouffe on the RBC: A Fair Solution

Campaign Manager David Plouffe on the RBC...

We're extremely gratified that the commission agreed on a fair solution that will allow Michigan and Florida to participate in the Convention. We appreciate their efforts, and those of the party leadership of both states, to bring this resolution about.