Help!! I don't understand. Why was Hilary the only one to put her name on the ballot? What does a vote of "uncommitted" mean?? Also why are there no democratic delegates?? Does this state just not matter to the democrats?? Someone please explain it to me! Thanks!!
In order to establish an organized calendar, the DNC had stated that, aside from Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, no states could hold primaries or caucuses before February 5. (Iowa and New Hampshire were chosen for tradition and because they are swing states, and Nevada and South Carolina because they represent key Democratic constituencies, blacks for SC and Hispanics and organized labor for NV.)
Michigan, and Florida also, decided that they were going to try to move their primaries up before February 5 anyway, hoping that the DNC would cave on their schedule to Michigan and Florida's demands. The DNC held their ground and stripped Michigan and Florida of all of their delegates to the Convention. Both Michigan and Florida decided to keep their primaries early in hopes of being able to convince the DNC to seat their delegates at the Convention, but this seems unlikely to happen.
In solidarity with the DNC, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, and Biden withdrew their names from the Michigan ballot; ballot rules in Florida made it impossible for their names to be withdrawn once the DNC decision had come, so they will be on the ballot in Florida. Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel did not withdraw their names. (This all happened well before Iowa and New Hampshire, back in the fall.) All candidates pledged not to campaign in Michigan and Florida under threat of having all of their delegates stripped by the DNC.
"Uncommitted" means a vote for delegates who are not bound to vote for any candidate on the first ballot at the Convention (all other delegates are bound to their candidate for the first round but usually switch
en masse to the winner in the second round in a show of unity). Some Obama and Edwards supporters in Michigan, including various congressmen and local officials, urged Obama and Edwards supporters to vote "Uncommitted" in order to lessen Clinton's margin of victory, though this education campaign was last-minute and on a shoe-string budget as neither Obama nor Edwards could break their pledge and spend money in Michigan.
