New Michigan Dem Caucus Likely

Posted at The New Republic an hour ago.

BREAKING: MI Caucus Likely, Says DNC Rules Committee Member

A member of the DNC's Rules And Bylaws Committee--the committee that stripped Florida and Michigan of its delegates for moving their primaries before February 5th--told me that Michigan plans to get out of its uncounted delegate problem by announcing a new caucus in the next few days.

Full post below.

BREAKING: MI Caucus Likely, Says DNC Rules Committee Member

A member of the DNC's Rules And Bylaws Committee--the committee that stripped Florida and Michigan of its delegates for moving their primaries before February 5th--told me that Michigan plans to get out of its uncounted delegate problem by announcing a new caucus in the next few days.

"They want to play. They know how to do caucuses," the DNC source said. "That was their plan all along, before they got cute with the primary."

Michigan Democrats had originally planned on caucuses after the legally permissible Feb. 5 date, but then went along with top elected Democrats, including Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who pushed for an early primary.

Hillary Clinton won that Jan. 15 primary, but was the only major candidate on the ballot. Barack Obama and John Edwards had removed their names, although Obama supporters in the state urged voters to choose "uncommitted" over Clinton. Forty percent of the voters that day did just that, compared to 55 percent who voted for

--S.V. Date

If it's true that Michigan had a back-up caucus plan all along in its back pocket, then good for Dean for standing his ground. And presumably Michigan's going to pay for the new caucus, since Dean just said the DNC wouldn't be funding a redo for either Michigan or Florida.

The two state parties will have to find the funds to pay for new contests without help from the national party, Dean said.

"We can't afford to do that. That's not our problem. We need our money to win the presidential race," he said. The DNC offered to pay for an alternative contest in Florida last summer but was turned down, officials at the party say.

And what about Florida? Sen. Bill Nelson is pushing for a do-over. Does Florida "know how to do caucuses"?