It’s dead. No, it isn’t — but time is fast running out for a Democratic primary do-over

Michigan Democratic Party leaders are still hunting for a solution to the controversy over their national convention delegates, but each passing day makes a state primary do-over less likely.

The state party has postponed for two weeks district conventions to select the majority of the state’s delegates. Those conventions had been scheduled for this weekend. The move was an attempt to buy more time to resolve the crisis, according to Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer.

But party leaders expressed little hope that Michigan voters will get another crack at choosing the party’s presidential candidate.

“Each day that goes by, the political momentum to find a solution is lost,” said Dave Woodward, chair of the Oakland County Democratic Party. “The conventions have been canceled because there is a conversation to say, `Is there a different way to select these delegates to ensure they could get seated?’ “

Continued -That leaves a party-run caucus, mail-in primary or state party convention as the remaining options. But the state party has said it will not pursue a solution unless both candidates agree to it. Sen. Hillary Clinton, who tends to be outperformed in caucuses, is unlikely to support a do-over that depends on one, and Sen. Barack Obama’s camp has already ruled out a mail-in primary.

“Are we prepared to negotiate? We don’t see any need for that,” Harold Ickes, Clinton’s campaign adviser, said Tuesday, as quoted in the Detroit Free Press. “There is still plenty of time for redos.”

Ickes’ optimism doesn’t reflect the view of state party leaders.

“Unfortunately I think a redo still has some life in it, but I think it’s been dealt a pretty heavy blow, with which I am in total agreement,” said Ted O’Dell, chair of the Marquette County Democratic Party. “There was a family fight within the [Democratic National Committee]. Some presidential candidates didn’t want to get in the middle. The candidates with enough fortitude stayed in the race, and everyone else ran like a dog with its tail between its legs.”

Clinton won Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary after Obama and several other candidates removed their names from the ballot after the party decided to punish the state for moving its primary ahead of its approved date. Clinton kept her name on the ballot, but agreed not to campaign in the state. The national Democratic Party said it wouldn’t seat Michigan’s delegates at its summer nominating convention.

If no solution is found, the state will likely decide to select delegates based on the Jan. 15 vote, Woodward said, and would need to decide whether Obama gets all the delegates allocated for the “uncommitted” ballot entry, which earned 40 percent of the vote.

And then it would have to persuade the national party to seat those delegates. DNC Chair Howard Dean has repeatedly said that will not happen. But Michigan leaders are more confident.

“Regardless of how we pick our delegates, I’m optimistic there will be a presumptive candidate before the convention, and that person will seat Michigan,” Woodward said.

O’Dell agreed: “Whoever the candidate is, I believe the Michigan delegates will be seated. Put quite simply, no candidate can win without Michigan.”