War Room

Clinton math

Recently, Barack Obama's campaign has started something of a new tradition. Every time it picks up a new delegate in its favor, it sends out an e-mail that's a countdown for when Obama will have enough delegates to wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton's campaign, meanwhile, is apparently trying to change the math involved in that countdown.

The generally accepted number of total Democratic delegates is 2,025. But the Clinton camp has apparently been using a different total lately -- 2,209 (or 2,208, depending upon whom you ask). That count assumes that the disputed delegates from Florida and Michigan have been seated, which the Clinton campaign has been pushing for.

On Tuesday, the Washington Times reported on this new math. Reporter Christina Bellantoni wrote:

Top Clinton aides said the nominee must win based on a tally that includes delegates from Florida and Michigan, which held January primaries that were disqualified by party rules. The campaign's "Delegate Hub" Web site identifies 2,208 as the total delegates needed to be nominated, or 183 more than the threshold of 2,025 set by the Democratic National Committee's rules.

"That's what we believe is the standard for deciding this -- who has the majority of the total delegates including Michigan and Florida to decide the nomination," said Clinton strategist Geoff Garin.

Asked about this on Tuesday, the candidate confirmed that she too is working with her campaign's new math, saying, "I think it's 2,209."

Update: Sorry, should have been clearer when I wrote this post -- the first sentence of the second paragraph should actually read "The generally accepted number of total delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination is 2,025."

Posted in: 2008 Election, Hillary Clinton

Hamdan sentenced to 5 1/2 years
Prosecutors had sought at least 30 years for bin Laden's former driver; instead, he'll be eligible for release in six months.
Obama weighs in on ugly Dem primary
Challenger Nikki Tinker has run nasty attacks on her fellow Democrat, and Obama has condemned them.
87 percent of Fox News viewers plan to vote McCain
A new poll shows a connection between the network voters watch and the candidate they favor.
Judge OKs protest zones for Dem convention
Advocacy groups and the ACLU challenged plans to keep protesters far away, but a federal judge says the security measures are constitutional.

Current Salon Politics Stories

’08 Update

14:46 EDT, Aug. 7, 2008
Obama weighs in on ugly Dem primary Challenger Nikki Tinker has run nasty attacks on her fellow Democrat, and Obama has condemned them.
War Room
19
13:48 EDT, Aug. 7, 2008
87 percent of Fox News viewers plan to vote McCain A new poll shows a connection between the network voters watch and the candidate they favor.
War Room
36
12:33 EDT, Aug. 7, 2008
Judge OKs protest zones for Dem convention Advocacy groups and the ACLU challenged plans to keep protesters far away, but a federal judge says the security measures are constitutional.
War Room
57
11:18 EDT, Aug. 7, 2008
Quote of the day This time, harsh criticism of Karl Rove's latest column is coming from the right.
War Room
18
10:13 EDT, Aug. 7, 2008
McCain ads hurting Obama? A top advisor to Obama, and a former McCain advisor who quit rather than work against Obama, say the McCain camp's strategy is working.
War Room
31

Salon Politics Blogs

Recent Posts

Obama weighs in on ugly Dem primary
Challenger Nikki Tinker has run nasty attacks on her fellow Democrat, and Obama has condemned them.
87 percent of Fox News viewers plan to vote McCain
A new poll shows a connection between the network voters watch and the candidate they favor.
Judge OKs protest zones for Dem convention
Advocacy groups and the ACLU challenged plans to keep protesters far away, but a federal judge says the security measures are constitutional.
Previous Posts…

War Room RSS Feed

Posts by date

August 2008
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31

About War Room

War Room is written and edited by Alex Koppelman, with contributions from Salon reporters around the country.

Daily Newsletter

Get Salon in your mailbox!