The Dem Nightmare Gets Worse

Two interesting items about the train wreck that is developing for the Democrats. First, this headline on Drudge:

DEAN DNC NIGHTMARE: THREATS FROM DONOR$ AS DELEGATE DISPUTE GROWS

Pushing to seat the Florida delegates, at least one top Clinton fund-raiser, Paul Cejas, a Miami businessman who has given the Democratic National Committee $63,500 since 2003, has demanded Democratic officials return his 2007 contribution of $28,500, which they have agreed to do.

“If you’re not going to count my vote, I’m not going to give you my money,” said Mr. Cejas, who was the United States ambassador to Belgium from 1998 to 2001.

Christopher Korge, a Florida real estate developer who is another top fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, held an event last year in his home that brought in about $140,000 for the national party, which was set aside in a special account for the general election battle in Florida. But he told committee officials this week that if Florida’s delegate conundrum was not settled satisfactorily he would be asking for the money back.

“If we do not resolve this issue,” Mr. Korge said, “I think it’s safe to say there will be a request for a return of $140,000.”

The anger from Clinton fund-raisers seems to emanate mostly from Florida, where the impasse appears farthest from resolution. Democratic Party officials in Michigan on Friday proposed a new primary election on June 3 to make up for the January election.

Good thing they're having such a big fundraising year.

Then, there's this:

March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo said the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could be ``ruinous'' for the Democratic Party if the contest isn't resolved before the August nominating convention.

Cuomo, a Democrat, said the party may be able to avoid a damaging convention fight if Clinton and Obama teamed up on a party ticket, or if the media forced the candidates before then to substantively address big policy issues facing the nation, such as the economy and the war in Iraq.

``It would be ruinous to the Democrats to get to the convention without an arrangement of some kind,'' Cuomo said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt,'' scheduled to air today.

A ticket with one of the candidates running as vice president would give the public a chance to elect the first woman president and the first African-American president regardless of who is at the top of the ticket, Cuomo said.

Either Obama, 46, or Clinton, 60, could serve two terms as vice president and then run for president.

``Most people say that's improbable, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be the best solution,'' Cuomo said. ``And it occurs to me that you could make a ticket almost either way, with Hillary on top or Obama on top.''

The second alternative would be to abandon ``phony'' debate formats and instead compel the candidates to answer detailed questions on policy issues, Cuomo said. The approach would allow voters to make a decision based on substance, he said.

That last idea isn't bad, but I can't see voters pouring through lengthy position papers - something that would only be attractive to policy wonks. The public today doesn't have the patience for anything longer than sound bites.

I don't think there's going to be an easy solution to their mess. I can't see Obama surrendering while he has the lead, and I can't see Hillary surrendering while she still thinks she can muscle her way to a win. A convention battle may be unavoidable (I hope, I hope, I hope!).