Clinton to Obama: Support Primary Re-Vote

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., appealed Wednesday to Democratic rival Barack Obama and Michigan lawmakers to endorse a rerun of the state’s primary.

I believe the families of Michigan are just as important as the families of any of any other state, Clinton said during a campaign appearance in Detroit.

The Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan and Florida of their national convention delegates for moving up their primaries.

A committee of four Michigan Democratic leaders, all neutral in the nomination contest, proposed the re-vote last week, and draft legislation was circulated at the state Capitol Monday, The Detroit News reported. Democratic legislative leaders — largely Obama supporters — raised objections.

The Obama campaign, while not outright rejecting a new primary, cited a number of potential legal obstacles. State lawmakers said they wouldn’t move ahead with a new primary unless both campaigns agree.

Clinton said the failure of Obama, D-Ill., to allow new votes in Michigan and Florida would help Republicans in November and violates a bedrock American principle that every vote counts.

Senator Obama speaks passionately on the campaign trail about empowering the American people, Clinton said. I’m here today to encourage him to match those words with actions.