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Make-Up Democratic Primary Unlikely in Michigan


A make-up Democratic Party presidential primary is now less likely to happen in Michigan, after state legislatures adjourned Thursday's session without taking up the issue.

The legislature is not due to meet again for another two weeks, greatly reducing the chances that the state could organize a primary election by a June 3 deadline.

The National Democratic Party stripped Michigan of its right to send delegates to the party's nominating convention after the state violated party rules by holding its primary elections early.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has been calling for a re-vote in the state. She currently trails her rival, Senator Barack Obama, by about 150 delegates needed to win the nomination.

Clinton says it would be unfair if Obama won the nomination without counting the votes in Michigan and Florida, another state that was stripped of its delegates for violating party rules.

The next major Democratic primary is in Pennsylvania April 22, with 158 delegates at stake.

It is unlikely that either candidate will receive enough total delegates to clinch the nomination as John McCain did for the Republican Party. That means the decision could come down to the party's nominating convention, when party officials, known as "super-delegates," are free to vote as they choose.

Analysts say it is likely super-delegates will consider which candidate has more pledged delegates and a higher percentage of the popular vote when making their decision.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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