NY TIMES ARTICLE: Brokered Convention appearing more likely for dems

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/28delegates.html?pagewanted=2&hp

By contrast, Democrats eliminated the so-called winner-take-all rules. Instead, delegates are allocated depending on the percentage of vote each candidate gets in a Congressional district, under very expansive rules that, generally speaking, mean the candidates divide the trove evenly assuming they get more than 30 percent of the vote. There are also some delegates allocated statewide, again proportionately.

That rule, aides to both campaigns said, has the effect in a race that seems so closely matched of making it extremely hard for anyone to pull far ahead.

“It’s going to be really hard — I’m not saying it’s impossible — it’s going to be very difficult for someone to pull out way ahead in a delegate count,” said Tad Devine, a Democratic consultant and an expert on his party’s nominating rules. “If you have two candidates who are getting 30 percent of the vote, and that is the scenario that is developing now, they are going to pretty much split the delegates.”

:(

Be still, my heart!

And, it's probably the reason that Clinton's campaign is concerned enough to continue funding anti-Edwards robo calls.

from those who made fun of my topic in early December....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3806266

What if we got a Al Gore vs. Jeb Bush race?

..and given todays attitudes, I doubt the nominee will be decided in a smoke filled room. One filled with Starbucks cups, maybe, but not smoke.

Both parties may broker this year, which would be wild. From a free publicity standpoint, it's great. The downside is that all candidates will spend money better spenf against the GOP. The other thing with a brokered convention scenario will be whether Edwards will get to play kingmaker; I think it's a safe assumption that the first words, after the second ballot is gavelled, will be "Mr. Speaker, I nominate Albert Gore." All bets are off after that moment.

Gore/Edwards?????

Back over yonder in Republicana, things are heating up between Mittens and Insane McCain, with Huckabee still showing no intentions of backing out in the near future. Republicans HATE McCain. If it comes down to Mittens vs. Saint McCain, things will be ugly on their side as well, with Huckabee holding the cards (much like Edwards will in a Clinton vs. Obama battle).

So in the grand scheme of things, this isn't such a huge concern.