The latest proposal from Michigan Democrats to seat delegates: award 69 delegates to Hillary Clinton and 59 to Barack Obama, effectively splitting the difference between the numbers each candidate has argued for. Clinton would like a 73/55 split, according to the results of the Jan. 15 primary, and Obama would like an equal 64/64 split since his name wasn’t even on the ballot.

The 69/59 delegate proposal was sent to Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer by Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and DNC Member Debbie Dingell.

Here is an excerpt from the letter, although the whole thing is quite interesting and well worth reading:

In recent weeks we contacted both campaign organizations to see if we could negotiate a compromise that would be acceptable to both candidates. While we have not yet been able to achieve that goal, we cannot allow this deadlock to continue with its negative impact on the ability of our nominee to carry Michigan in November, and indeed to win the election.
…
While we expect that neither candidate will explicitly embrace this approach, we believe that the DNC should adopt it and both candidates should accept it because it is fair and because it would resolve an impasse that with each passing day hurts our chances of carrying Michigan and winning the Presidency. We also believe that the DNC must exercise the leadership to resolve this impasse and not allow it to fester any longer. We urge you to seek the approval of the Executive Committee of the Michigan Democratic Party for this proposal and forward it promptly to the DNC for their consideration.

This 69/59 solution seems fair… fair-ish. Who knows what the results would have been if Obama had been on the ballot? Perhaps his supporters didn’t want to bother voting for “uncommitted”? We may never know, as all proposals for a re-do vote have not been feasible.

Still, every vote is counting in this race. More and more people are getting involved, registering to vote, going out to the polls - it seems very unfair to exclude an entire state (or two - hi, Florida!). It’ll be interesting to hear the reactions to this proposal from the Clinton and Obama camps in the next few days. If not this solution, then what?