What an exciting campaign! This is politics and timing at its best. After her big win in West VA, While Senator Clinton is recording interviews for the talk shows expressing her strength in the middle class; the champion fighter for the middle class, Senator John Edwards comes out with an endorsement of Senator Obama. The landscape and the discussions switch from her big win, to Senator Obama. I am not sure who made the timing decision, weather it was Senator Obama, or Senator Edwards it was brilliant. I'll take the campaign at their word which makes me believe that Senator Edwards decision was only 24-36 hours prior to the announcement.

Where does that leave me an un-seated, shunned, Florida Delegate committed to John Edwards? While I am confident that Senator Obama will have enough delegates to clinch the nomination before the convention, just for fun lets have a "what if" discussion.

What if we get to the convention without a candidate that has enough delegates to clinch the nomination?

What if Florida gets a full delegation based upon the January 29th primary results?

Does Senator Edwards’s endorsement of Senator Obama mean that his delegates are now Obama delegates? NO! I committed my delegate vote to John Edwards and I am bound to that commitment....until....

1) Senator Edwards "releases" his delegates which allow them to vote for any remaining candidate.
Or
2) After the first round of voting on the convention floor, which includes the super delegates, and if there is still no candidate with the delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Should this happen, all delegates regardless of their commitment, can now vote anyway the wish in order to end the deadlock and nominate a candidate.

Scenario #1 is particularly interesting, should Senator Edwards release his delegates, which he will, and should Florida get a full delegation, which is doubtful, but if this does happen, you might as well call all Edwards delegates "Super Delegates." Their ability to vote for either candidate gives them the same influence as the group the media has been referring to as Super Delegates. FYI the true term within the DNC is "Charter Delegates" Not "Super Delegates." If this scenario does develop, you can bet I'll be approached by both campaigns. If that happens, I will review their policy papers and they better include appropriate focus on funding at the National Institute of Health. What are your issues/concerns? Send them to me and I'll ask the questions.

Ok, back to reality..

What is really on the front for me. The DNC rules and bylaws committee is meeting on May 31, and I expect some kind of ruling that will include Florida. What will it be? Honestly it could be anything from I get seated as an Edwards Delegate with a full vote, or maybe a half vote, or maybe I'll be excluded and not allowed to attend because of a penalty that reduces the number of delegates, or maybe I'll get sit on the floor but not allowed to vote.

There was to be a full delegation meeting in Tampa this upcoming weekend that has now been postponed until Mid-June in Fort Lauderdale. I'll keep you posted.

Please remember do not let anyone tell you their vote does not count. Just look what we have been through the last eight years, votes count and not voting hurts much more.

VOTE!

Peace out!

Barry B