Is Hillary getting worried?

4.18.00pm GMT Thu 31st Jan 2008

Hillary Clinton campaign sticker

In a sign that Hillary Clinton is getting worried she is lobbying hard for the Democrats in Florida and Michigan to have their votes counted at the Democrat Convention. Both Florida and Michigan had their delegates stripped as a result of moving their Primaries forward - although there was no campaign in either state, or in Michigan's case not name apart from Hillary's on the ballot paper - Hillary won both states and would like the delegates to be counted.

Once a ruling has been made it really ought to be stuck to, if the delegates are counted it puts Obama at a disadvantage, his name was not on the ballot paper in Michigan and he did not campaign in Florida. It remains to be seen if the DNC stand firm, with the race looking close the Florida and Michigan delegates could make the difference.

I wouldn't be surprised if the DNC did in fact change the rules party way through - it certainly wouldn't be the first political party to do so. I certainly know of case where the Liberal Democrats have either changed the rules part way through a selection or failed to enforce the rules.