Delegate Debate liveblog, the sequel

By GottaLaff

MSNBC:

Chris Matthews: Obama's aim today is to put the fire out.

Todd: Michigan is still an open question. Obama doesn't want to recognize that primary. The popular vote is a silly question, but the Obama campaign is not willing to concede that just because they agreed to the 19 vote advantage in Fla, the popular vote shouldn't be counted. It's not a metric. But they'd accept it by default in Florida. Michigan is another story, it can't be legitimate.

Chris: Clintons want to count the total number of votes.

Washington Post guy: Exit polls are wrong.

Nora O'Donnell: The first wave of exit polls is usually way off. But toward the end are more accurate. This is an effort by the party to appear unified. Keep everyone happy. That is difficult. That's why there have been very heated arguments. Dean wants to walk out saying, 'We are unified.' Obama doesn't want to legitimize the popular vote in Michigan, because Hillary would have a reason to continue. That's key. If Clinton had called for the seating of ALL the delegates, will that be enough for her? Will she take it to the convention and keep fighting? The door would be open just a bit. Obama camp conceded in Florida, giving her half the delegates. But Clinton says, "I want it all." That's what they're putting forth. Levin wants a full seating of the delegates, however you apportion it. And if they don't do that, Levin said he'd take it to the Credentials Committee and the convention.

Rachel Maddow: If the overall strategy is "this can't be resolved", and you raise the rhetoric, you justify going to the convention.

Nora: Why the 500 + protesters? Why were they bussed up there? To say they were glad they reached a compromise? There's a family feud going on.

Chris: I heard there would be 10,000. They're very calm, not angry... yet. It'll come down to, are we going to have a combustion in the party through the summer, or will Clinton be satisfied with a popular vote victory and go with that to the superdelegates and try to win this week?

Post Guy: It doesn't lie with Clintons, but with Levin. Will HE be happy? He said he'd go to the Credentials Committee if he's not happy.

Mitchell: Clinton wants to run up the popular vote, but she'll never close the delegate gap. Then go to the superdelegates. If they jump to Obama, this will wind down. There's no appetite for a scorched earth policy, not from Hillary or Bill. There's a larger interest in the Dem. party. There's still a lot of negotiating to be had.

Chris: If she can claim that she got the most votes, she can start a drumbeat to be on the ticket, per a sense of things I got from Terry McCauliffe.

Nora: She could say that withOUT getting the popular vote. It's more of an historical aspect, being the first woman candidate.

Chris: Because he doesn't want to pick her, that's why.

Mitchell: Whatever happens today, they'll declare victory, because of the very thing that took place today. Because of the division of delegates, by inference, she can declare victory, and will argue for the popular vote.

Todd: They'll adjourn for lunch, but it's an unofficial meeting, cordoned off, like jury deliberations. We may find out that they'll either consider the 2 states together, or separately. Obama camp will rethink the concession if they think the Michigan deal is going south...

Mitchell: Granholme's endorsement, is it being traded? If Obama gives Clinton a deal for Michigan, then will Granholme endorse him? Hillary may go back to Florida and declare victory. Todd's analogy of jury deliberations? Well Judge Pelosi has made a statement, too.

Todd: Ickes and the other Clinton partisan will have the least influence because they're so partisan. However the DNC chair, Don Fowler, a Clinton supporter, is ready to cut a deal. He could have a lot of sway. And Donna Brazile is uncommitted, she will be a respected voice too.

Mitchell: There's an event with Al Gore tonight.

Todd: They don't want to step on the Puerto Rico primary, so the committee will want to resolve this tonight.

Mitchell: Plus, they want to be on the Sunday talk shows with an agreement, unity.

Todd: Obama would lose 19 delegates today, roll out superdelegates on Monday, so Tuesday night, when we call Montana, we call the nomination. That's their best case scenario, and it's plausible. But it's not a probable one yet. We'll see after today, and after Puerto Rico tomorrow.