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US Democrats reach delegate deal US Democrats reach delegate deal
(9 minutes later)
The US Democratic Party is voting to decide the fate of Florida and Michigan, two states debarred for the presidential nomination process. The US Democratic Party has taken a compromise decision on delegates from Florida and Michigan, two states barred from choosing a presidential candidate.
A compromise deal has reportedly been agreed to restore the two states' delegates to the party convention, but cut their voting power in half. Both states' delegates will be allowed to attend August's convention, but will only have half a vote each.
This represents a partial victory for Hillary Clinton, who is lagging behind Barack Obama in the race. Hillary Clinton, who is lagging behind Barack Obama in the race, wanted all delegates to be allowed to attend.
But the additional votes she would gain will not allow her to overtake him. The decision increases her delegate total, but halves their influence, with Mr Obama still the clear leader.
Whatever the final 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. Rules broken
Compromise likely
Mrs Clinton wanted members of the Democratic rules and bylaws committee, meeting in the ballroom of a Washington hotel, to overturn a previous decision and allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to vote at the Democratic National Convention in August.Mrs Clinton wanted members of the Democratic rules and bylaws committee, meeting in the ballroom of a Washington hotel, to overturn a 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. Delegates to that convention, chosen in votes in each state, will decide which candidate becomes the Democratic Party candidate in November's presidential election.
She is hoping to close the delegate gap with Mr Obama - and persuade undecided "super-delegates" that she should be the party's nominee. Officially, Mrs Clinton won both states in January, but both were initially discounted because they held their primaries in January, in contravention of party rules.
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. Neither candidate campaigned in the contests, and in Michigan, Mr Obama's name was not even on the ballot.
Extra backing
The Washington meeting agreed that the results of the two primaries would stand.
Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Puerto Rico on Saturday
This gives Mrs Clinton 69 delegates in Michigan, compared to Mr Obama's 59. And in Florida, she gains 105 delegates to Mr Obama's 67.
This reduces Mr Obama's lead - previously 202 - by 48, but the delegates from Michigan and Florida will only have half a vote each, so her gains are reduced.
Mrs Clinton is still hoping to persuade undecided "super-delegates" that she should be the party's nominee.
The 27-member committee unanimously accepted the compromise decision for Florida, after earlier rejecting by 15-12 a plan which would give all delegates full voting rights at the convention.
In the case of Michigan, the committee approved the compromise by 19-8. Overall, Mrs Clinton gains only 24 delegates, far short of the total she needs to catch Mr Obama.
Puerto Rico holds its Democratic primary on Sunday, one of the last US states and territories to do so.