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| US Democrats hold key poll talks | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US Democratic Party is meeting to decide the fate of two states left out of the dramatic race to find its candidate for president. | The US Democratic Party is meeting to decide the fate of two states left out of the dramatic race to find its candidate for president. |
| Both Florida and Michigan were stripped of representation for holding their candidate contests in January, in violation of party rules. | Both Florida and Michigan were stripped of representation for holding their candidate contests in January, in violation of party rules. |
| Hillary Clinton hopes the party will reverse its decision in the two states, where she has enjoyed strong support. | Hillary Clinton hopes the party will reverse its decision in the two states, where she has enjoyed strong support. |
| She is lagging behind Barack Obama in the closing days of the race. | She is lagging behind Barack Obama in the closing days of the race. |
| The 30 members of the Democratic Party's rules and bylaws committee are meeting in the ballroom of a Washington hotel. | The 30 members of the Democratic Party's rules and bylaws committee are meeting in the ballroom of a Washington hotel. |
| Democrat party chairman Howard Dean says compromise 'will not please everyone' | |
| Outside, about 200 protesters holding placards gathered, chanting: "Count our vote." | Outside, about 200 protesters holding placards gathered, chanting: "Count our vote." |
| The Democratic Party chairman, Howard Dean, opened the meeting, saying the compromises under discussion would probably not satisfy everyone. | The Democratic Party chairman, Howard Dean, opened the meeting, saying the compromises under discussion would probably not satisfy everyone. |
| "I want this to be a healing process that unifies us, that brings us together, that allows us to reason together, that results in collegial bargaining, not confrontation; so that when we leave this room, we're all wearing the same blue jerseys, so that we can go after the Republicans in their red jerseys in November," he said. | "I want this to be a healing process that unifies us, that brings us together, that allows us to reason together, that results in collegial bargaining, not confrontation; so that when we leave this room, we're all wearing the same blue jerseys, so that we can go after the Republicans in their red jerseys in November," he said. |
| Whatever the outcome of the committee's meeting, Barack Obama is still almost certain to cross the finishing-line in first place, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy. | Whatever the outcome of the committee's meeting, Barack Obama is still almost certain to cross the finishing-line in first place, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy. |
| Compromise likely | Compromise likely |
| The committee meeting could mark Mrs Clinton's last stand, our correspondent says. | The committee meeting could mark Mrs Clinton's last stand, our correspondent says. |
| Q&A: Michigan and Florida votes | Q&A: Michigan and Florida votes |
| She hopes members will overturn its previous decision and allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to vote at the Democratic National Convention in August. | She hopes members will overturn its previous decision and allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to vote at the Democratic National Convention in August. |
| Officially, she won both states in January but neither she nor Mr Obama campaigned in either - and in Michigan, Mr Obama's name was not even on the ballot. | Officially, she won both states in January but neither she nor Mr Obama campaigned in either - and in Michigan, Mr Obama's name was not even on the ballot. |
| She is hoping to close the delegate gap with Mr Obama - and persuade undecided "super-delegates" that she should be the party's nominee. | She is hoping to close the delegate gap with Mr Obama - and persuade undecided "super-delegates" that she should be the party's nominee. |
| Mr Obama currently has a delegate lead of 202 over Mrs Clinton, with 1,984 delegates to her 1,782, according to Associated Press news agency projections. | Mr Obama currently has a delegate lead of 202 over Mrs Clinton, with 1,984 delegates to her 1,782, according to Associated Press news agency projections. |
| Should the committee award her every Florida and Michigan delegate she won in January's discounted elections, her net delegate boost would be just 43. | Should the committee award her every Florida and Michigan delegate she won in January's discounted elections, her net delegate boost would be just 43. |
| Nonetheless, such a decision would boost Mrs Clinton's chances of ending the primary election season with a plausible claim to have won a majority of the overall popular vote. | Nonetheless, such a decision would boost Mrs Clinton's chances of ending the primary election season with a plausible claim to have won a majority of the overall popular vote. |
| The rules committee seems more likely to opt for a compromise - perhaps seating half the delegates - that would do little to change the dynamics of the race, our correspondent says. | The rules committee seems more likely to opt for a compromise - perhaps seating half the delegates - that would do little to change the dynamics of the race, our correspondent says. |