Re: NBC: Texas Dem caucuses may be delayed
- From: "Bevchcgo@xxxxxxxxx" <Bevchcgo@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:41:44 -0800 (PST)
On Feb 29, 10:09 am, EStreetJoe <estju...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/510802.html
Posted on Thu, Feb. 28, 2008 10:54 PM
Officials: Clinton aides threatened lawsuit over Texas caucuses
By JAY ROOT
McClatchy Newspapers
The Texas Democratic Party warned Thursday that election night
caucuses scheduled for next Tuesday could be delayed or disrupted
after aides to Hillary Clinton threatened to sue over the party's
complicated delegate selection process.
In a letter sent out late Thursday to both the Clinton and Barack
Obama campaigns, Texas Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn warned a
lawsuit could ruin the Democrats' effort to re-energize voters just as
they are turning out in record numbers.
Spokesmen for both campaigns said there were no plans to sue ahead of
the March 4 election.
"It has been brought to my attention that one or both of your
campaigns may already be planning or intending to pursue litigation
against the Texas Democratic Party,'' Dunn wrote in the letter,
obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Such action could prove to
be a tragedy for a reinvigorated Democratic process.''
Democratic sources said both campaigns have made it clear that they
might consider legal options over the complicated delegate selection
process, which includes both a popular vote and evening caucuses. But
the sources made it clear that the Clinton campaign in particular had
warned of an impending lawsuit.
"Both campaigns have made it clear that they would go there if they
had to, but I think the imminent threat is coming from one campaign,''
said one top Democratic official, referring to the Clinton campaign.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another Democratic official who was privvy to the discussions
confirmed that Clinton representatives made veiled threats in a
telephone call this week.
"Officials from Sen. Clinton's campaign at several times throughout
the call raised the specter of 'challenging the process,' the official
said. "The call consisted of representatives from both campaigns and
the Democratic Party.''
The source, who asked not to identified by name because he did not
have authorization to speak about the matter, said Clinton 's
political director, Guy Cecil, had forcefully raised the possibility
of a courtroom battle.
But Adrienne Elrod, Clinton's top Texas spokeswoman, said campaign and
party officials had merely discussed election night procedures and
that the campaign was merely seeking a written agreement in advance.
She could not elaborate on the details of the agreement the Clinton
campaign is seeking.
"It is our campaign's standard operating procedure that we need to see
what we are agreeing to in writing before we agree to it,'' Elrod
said. "No legal action is being taken. We have no reason to take any
legal action.''
Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama campaign had no plans to
sue.
"We're confident that by working closely with the Texas Democratic
Party and the Clinton campaign we'll have a caucus that Texans can be
proud of -- because every eligible voter will be allowed to participate
and have their vote counted in a timely manner," Earnest said.
The letter to the two campaigns did not specify what procedures or
rules might trigger a lawsuit. But one party official said the
campaigns were most concerned about the caucus process, or, as the
party refers to it, the "precinct conventions.''
Texas has 228 delegates, the biggest single cache remaining. But only
126 delegates are doled out based on the selection voters make at the
ballot box. Another 67 delegates -- more than in many states -- are to
be apportioned based on the number of people who participate in the
caucuses that begin in over 8,000 precincts once the polls close at 7
p.m. (The remaining 35 are so-called "superdelegates'' free to support
whomever they choose).
Clinton campaign aides have argued that caucuses favor Obama, whose
campaign organization has turned out overwhelming numbers at caucuses
in other states.
Democrats have described the enthusiasm in Texas, as evidenced by the
record turnout among early voters in the most populous counties, as a
sign that the party is undergoing a revival after years of decline
under virtually unchallenged Republican rule.
"If it is true that litigation is imminent between one or both of your
campaigns and the (Democratic Party), such action coule prove to be a
tragedy for a reinvigorated democratic process that is involving a
record number of participants here in Texas and across the nation,''
Dunn, the state party lawyer, wrote.
Seems they should have sued when she was ahead rather than waiting too
late when she's behind. JMHO.
Bev
.
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