The Daily Background

Today is the day that the RBC (the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee) will settle once and for all the status of the Michigan and Florida delegates. Clinton is pushing for seating all of them as they currently are (including the Stalin-style election in Michigan where hers was the only name on the ballot), and Obama’s campaign is pushing for some type of compromise, perhaps for seating only half of the delegates.

Here’s what the day will supposedly look like:

After DNC Chairman Howard Dean opens the proceedings with brief remarks [at 9:30], the committee will hear from DNC member Jon Ausman, who is presenting Florida’s appeal. Senator Bill Nelson will speak on behalf of the state party, and state Senator Arthenia Joyner will speak on behalf of the Clinton campaign. Florida Congressman Robert Wexler will speak for the Obama campaign.

Michigan will follow: State party chair and RBC member Mark Brewer will present, Senator Carl Levin will speak on behalf of the party, former Governor Jim Blanchard will speak on behalf of the Clinton campaign, and former Congressman (and John Edwards campaign manager) David Bonior will speak for the Obama campaign.

After hearing the appeals, the committee will break for lunch–they will eat privately—before deliberating. The RBC is expected to come to a decision by the end of the day, although committee members have been told to avoid making their plane reservations for Sunday morning.

So, we could have an answer by the end of the day… or not. We’ll see.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog