Michigan officials anticipated the action by the Democratic National Committee's rules panel. But Mark Brewer, Michigan's Democratic chairman, said before the vote that he did not think the delegates would be lost for good. He expects the nominee to insist the state's delegates be seated at the convention.
Yesterday's vote further diminishes the significance of Michigan's Democratic primary. All the major candidates have already agreed not to campaign in either Michigan or Florida because the states violated party rules. And in Michigan, most of the major candidates won't even be on the ballot.
Democratic candidates John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. have withdrawn their names from the ballot to satisfy Iowa and New Hampshire, which were unhappy Michigan was challenging their leadoff status on the primary calendar.
That leaves Hillary Clinton, Dennis J. Kucinich, Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, and "uncommitted," as the choices on the Democratic ballot in Michigan.
The DNC rules panel voted by voice vote, with only a few dissents.
Michigan officials defended their early primary, saying it helps provide geographic, racial, and economic diversity early in the primary calendar.
They also contend that other states that were allowed to hold early votes were receiving preferential treatment.
"I think it is unconscionable that we continue to grant special treatment to some states in this process," Brewer told the DNC rules panel.
Alexis Herman, co-chair of the DNC rules panel, said party leaders worked for two years to create a primary calendar that respected the historic roles of Iowa and New Hampshire, while adding geographic and racial diversity by allowing Nevada and South Carolina to vote early.
Other panel members sympathized with Michigan, but they said they must enforce the rules.
"While we may not like the rules, if we don't respect the rules, then we are going to have chaos," said committee member Yvonne Gates of Nevada.
Both political parties have been struggling to control their chaotic calendars.
