RBC Meeting - No cameras this time

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Just 25 days ago, the whole political world was obsessed with the DNC RBC meeting to discuss the Florida and Michigan situations. Today, it was a little calmer as the RBC met by conference call.

There were two challenges brought before the RBC today. The challenge from Texas was originally thought to be a significant challenge to the Texas primary/caucus two-step. But it turned out to be a challenge to 1 Obama delegate due to irregularities at the Senate District Caucus. This challenge was referred to the Credentials Committee.

The second challenge is more interesting. From Wisconsin, it's a challenge to Clinton delegate Debra Bartoshevich. Bartoshevich has said she will vote for McCain, which should disqualify her from being a delegate. This challenge was also referred to the Credentials Committee. Expect her to change her tune or lose her seat.

Finally, the delegate slates for 9 states, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Virginia, were not compliant with gender equality rules.

One more thought. Looking back on the May 31 RBC meeting, it is amazing to realize that the race was over 5 days later, when word filtered out that Clinton was dropping out. In retrospect, it seems clear that the important thing coming out of the meeting was a decision, any decision, and it didn't matter what the decision was. Taking Florida and Michigan off-the-table was key to paving the way for Clinton dropping out, removing any excuse for her to stay in the race in order to make sure the two state delegations were seated.

Update: Colorado has too many male delegates:

The head of Colorado's Democratic Party has a problem to solve today - undoing a mistake that saw one too many men elected as delegates to the national convention in Denver.

Party rules require that every state's delegation be split evenly among men and women. But Colorado, with 70 total delegates, currently has 36 men and 34 women.

That means that Pat Waak, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, has the unenviable task of removing a male delegate and making him an alternate, then choosing one of the alternates to fill the spot.

In the end, an alternate may be replaced as well because that group also must be balanced by gender.