Blanchard: DNC 'flirting with a McCain victory'

Blanchard: DNC 'flirting with a McCain victory' BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF • FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU • March 28, 2008 EAST LANSING – Former Gov. James Blanchard blamed the Democratic National Committee’s rigid rules for the party’s presidential deadlock, saying its refusal to seat Michigan and Florida delegates at the national convention could hand Republicans the White House. “The national Democratic Party is flirting with a McCain victory if someone doesn’t step in and make sure Michigan voters’ voices are heard,” said Blanchard, co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s Michigan campaign. The national party won’t recognize delegates from Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary because it was held too early, in violation of party rules. But there’s been no agreement on holding a second primary or Democratic caucus that would be recognized by the natinoal party. “They’re treating the rules like the U.S. Constitution or the 10 Commandments. They’ve lost their way,” Blanchard said of the DNC. He added, “I do think the presidential election process is broken. It’s broken, we have a heck of a mess.”Blanchard, during a taping of Michigan public television’s “Off the Record” this morning, said the state Legislature should reconsider holding another Democratic primary when it returns from its spring break.“I think, if you’re a legislator, it’s an absolute no-brainer to say, ‘Let the voters decide,’” he said. “The issue is not what’s good for Hillary or good for Obama, it’s what’s good for the voters of Michigan.”Blanchard also said he likes a proposal for a separate, national convention of Democratic superdelegates in June to break a deadlock and decide whether Clinton or Barack Obama is the nominee, before the Democratic National Convention in August.Unless it’s resolved, he said, the ultimate nominee will be severely weakened heading into Labor Day, the unofficial kickoff of the general election campaign.On Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Blanchard said he agrees with Gov. Jennifer Granholm to defer a decision to boot Kilpatirick from office until his criminal case is decided. He said if Kilpatrick is convicted of a felony, he will be forced to resign anyway.Blanchard said if Granholm attempted to oust the mayor now, he would challenge her in court – and probably win.“And that,” Blanchard said, “would weaken the governor and continue to add to the problem and do nothing for economic development,” Blanchard said. “What the governor is doing and should do is to meet with business leaders and continue plans to diversify the economy, take a look at alternative energy research and not get mired in this, which is going to be in the courts anyway and resolved there.”