WASHINGTON — A deal to allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to participate at the Democratic National Convention is unlikely before summer, party chief Howard Dean said Sunday.
Dean said that was partly because presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama want to focus on the coming round of contests. Next on the schedule are Pennsylvania on April 22 and Indiana and North Carolina on May 6, followed by several other states and U.S. territories. Voting ends June 3.
But he continued to express confidence that an agreement would be reached to seat delegates from both states.
“It’s going to take some time to work this out. But I think we can work it out, and I want to work it out,” Dean told “Face the Nation” on CBS.
During a separate interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Dean said “I agree” when asked whether a solution will have to wait until after the last Democratic contests in South Dakota and Montana on June 3, and after the remaining superdelegates have said which candidate they support.
The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida and Michigan of their convention delegates — a total of 366 — for holding primaries too early in the process, violating party rules. Clinton won both primaries, and she and her campaign have been pressing for those results to be recognized. Obama objects.
Delegate tally
This Associated Press tally includes estimates of unpledged delegates:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: 1,501
Sen. Barack Obama: 1,635
Uncommitted: 57
Yet to be chosen: 836
Needed to nominate: 2,024
Total delegate votes: 4,047
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