As they bargain, officials are protecting the interests of their favorite candidates. Nelson has endorsed Clinton. In his letter, Nelson said he would support a new primary but not caucuses. Clinton tends to fare better in primaries than caucuses.
Dean said Thursday that he would like to see both Florida and Michigan hold new nominating contests. But he said the national party would not pick up the tab.
Each state has two options, Dean said: Come back to the Democratic National Committee with a new delegate selection plan that complies with party rules, or appeal to a 186-member credentials committee at the August convention to allow the Michigan and Florida delegates' seating.
With no consensus in sight, some officials said it was time to convene a committee of party elders.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) said that he was so worried about Democratic infighting over the election that he was urging Dean to appoint such a panel to recommend a strategy to resolve the disputes.
Members might include former President Carter and former Vice Presidents Walter F. Mondale and Al Gore.
Cleaver, a Clinton supporter, said it was important for the campaigns to "turn down the volume."
"If we keep going the way we are, we might as well give the keys to the White House" to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, he said.
--
peter.nicholas@latimes.com
michael.finnegan@latimes.com
--
Times staff writer Richard Simon contributed to this report.
