DNC votes to overlook NH, but punishes Michigan

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee saw it exactly how New Hampshire politicians wanted them to with a separate votes today stripping Michigan of all their delegates to the national convention, but allowing all Granite State delegates even though both states were technically breaking party rules.

At a vote in Vienna, Virginia during the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting, the Rules and Bylaws Committee took up the question of whether or not to sanction states depending on when their chose to hold their presidential primaries and caucuses.

Last year the same committee laid out specific dates for four states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina -- and said all others had to hold their contests on or after Feb. 5th.

Michigan and Florida decided they would hold their contests on Jan. 15 and Jan 29, respectively, and violate party rules in the hope of having greater clout in selecting their party's presidential nominee.

These states, particularly Michigan's early date, forced New Hampshire to announce last week the state's presidential primary will Jan. 8, instead of Jan. 22 as the DNC wanted.

The votes is a big victory for Raymond Buckley, who is serving his first term as New Hampshire Democratic Party chair. While Democrats are not punishing New Hampshire, the Republican National Committee says the will strip the Granite State of half of its delegates.