The DNC voted in August that Florida would be stripped of all of its delegates. The rules only indicate that it must be stripped of at least 50% of the delegates, but the DNC went further. Of course, the DNC could reverse its earlier decision and still be within its own rules by stripping 50%, which is probably what it will do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/us/politics/26calendar.html?_r=1&fta=y&oref=slogin
You did not answer my question....IF THE DNC was to stick to their position of not letting the Delegates count at all from those states, then how would their rule C 1.b. come in to play?
THEY ALWAYS KNEW that HALF of the votes would count....always, or there would be no rule C.1.b.....
it is as simple as that.....there is no provision writen in to the rules that allows for sanctions on the candidates for breaking the rules that would cover a situation where all of the delegates were stripped.... what would stop the Candidates from campaigning there if there was no meat(sanctions) behind the rule....
as said, they always knew they would count them, everyone knew they would count at least half at the DNC...they just wanted to make it hard on Florida and Michigan and were trying to force them in to changing their primaries back in August when they said this to them and out of arrogance, i might ad....imo.
DNC RULES:
C. 1. a. Violation of timing: In the event the Delegate Selection Plan of a state party provides or permits a meeting, caucus, convention or primary which constitutes the first determining stage in the presidential nominating process to be held prior to or after the dates for the state as provided in Rule 11 of these rules, or in the event a state holds such a meeting, caucus, convention or primary prior to or after such dates, the number of pledged delegates elected in each category allocated to the state pursuant to the Call for the National Convention shall be reduced by
fifty (50%) percent, and the number of alternates shall also be reduced by fifty (50%) percent. In addition, none of the members of the Democratic National Committee and no other unpledged delegate allocated pursuant to Rule 8.A. from that state shall be permitted to vote as members of the state’s delegation. In determining the actual number of delegates or alternates by which the state’s delegation is to be reduced, any fraction below .5 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and any fraction of .5 or greater shall be rounded up to the next nearest whole number.
b. A presidential candidate who campaigns in a state where the state party is in violation of the timing provisions of these rules, or where a primary or caucus is set by a state’s government on a date that violates the timing provisions of these rules, may not receive pledged delegates or delegate votes from that state. Candidates may, however, campaign in such a state after the primary or caucus that violates these rules. “Campaigning” for purposes of this section includes, but is not limited to, purchasing print, internet, or electronic advertising that reaches a significant percentage of the voters in the aforementioned state; hiring campaign workers; opening an office; making public appearances; holding news conferences; coordinating volunteer activities; sending mail, other than fundraising requests that are also sent to potential donors in other states; using paid or volunteer phoners or automated calls to contact voters; sending emails or establishing a website specific to that state; holding events to which Democratic voters are invited; attending events sponsored by state or local Democratic organizations; or paying for campaign materials to be used in such a state. The Rules and Bylaws Committee will determine whether candidate activities are covered by this section.