Legal Commentary

The Magic Number And Gaining Legitimacy For The Nominee

By Big Tent Democrat

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

The magic number. That is not a phrase you hear much in reference to the Democratic nomination. We hear about pledged delegate counts and how sacrosanct they are of course. But never is that tied to the concept of a magic number. But the magic number exists. Two are possible - one with FL/MI (2214) and one without (2025). And this Chris Bowers post truly illustrates why not revoting Florida and Michigan makes getting a legitimate nominee extremely difficult:

Add this in to the above numbers, and it comes to a grand total of Obama 1,948--1,824 Clinton, with only the 255 remaining superdelegates to go. Obama would need 74.5, or just 29.3%, of the remaining superdelegates to reach the 2,022.5 magic number. At that point, he would be able to dictate what happens in Florida and Michigan.

(Emphasis supplied.) Chris assumes the non-MI/FL magic number will be considered legitimate by all. I am confident it will not be so. A solution to Florida and Michigan must, at the very least, be provided and agreed to PRIOR to the nominee being chosen. It can not be done after the fact. You can not truly claim legitimacy unless the nominee achieves the MI/FL magic number - 2214, through an agreed upon process. After the fact will not cut it. The legitimacy of the nominee depends upon it.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 04, 2008 (boomark / email).