The Rules Committee has Ruled.

The panel members voted to distribute the Florida and Michigan delegates.

The Florida decision was a little easier to determine and to get passed. Although some members would have wanted 100% of the delegation to be seated, it was (essentially) a unanimous vote to seat all of the Florida delegates, but each with 1/2 vote; the allocation was extended to the Florida superdelegates, each of whom will have 1/2 vote at the DNC convention. Hillary Clinton will get 105 pledged delegates and Barack Obama will receive 67; that is, Clinton gets 52.5 votes and Obama gets 33.5.

The Michigan decision was much more controversial and resulted in descension. Again, the entire Michigan delegation will be seated, each delegate casting a 1/2 vote. It was, however,the allocation of delegates that caused so much emotion and debate. As has been discussed for the last 5 months, Barack Obama was not on the Michigan ballot, therefore, he received zero votes. The majority of the RBC (Rules and bylaws Committee), and the representatives for the Michigan delegation, felt that Barack Obama deserved to get some of the pledged delegates. The big question was, how many. Clinton supporters suggested that the delegates be meted according to the January vote; she would receive 73 delegates and 55 would be declared “uncommitted”. Barack Obama supporters suggested a plan whereby the delegate votes would be divided equally between the two candidates, with each receiving 64. There is no way to guess how many Michigan Democrats would have voted for Barack Obama, given the chance to do so and/or believing that their votes would count. But as a compromise, the committee voted to allocate the delegates so that Senator Clinton will receive 69 and Senator Obama with receive 59.

It was not a unanimous vote.

Harold Ickes, Hillary Clinton supporter, advisor and reported representative, argued vehemently for a “fair representation” of the Michigan vote.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has issued a statement “reserving the right to appeal the decision”.

The big question is whether or not Hillary Clinton will take the race to “the convention”.