US:The effort to schedule a June revote for the Michigan Democratic primary has collapsed, dealing a potentially serious blow to Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.
With Florida Democrats already all but giving up on a new contest, the Michigan state senate's decision to adjourn on Thursday without acting on a new primary left in limbo Mrs Clinton's last-ditch strategy to secure the Democratic nomination.
She had been relying on a string of victories in the remaining contests, to be capped by victories in the Michigan and Florida revotes, to help her gain ground in both the pledged-delegate and popular-vote totals against Barack Obama.
Clinton aides express the hope that a late surge in both categories will help convince party superdelegates that she has the best chance to beat John McCain, the Republican nominee, in November.
Without the Michigan and Florida delegates, Mrs Clinton's odds grow longer. Both states defied the Democratic National Committee by moving their primary dates forward and were stripped of delegates in January.
"We will turn our attention to other options," said Michigan Democratic governor Jennifer Granholm, a Clinton supporter who expressed deep disappointment.
Obama strategist David Axelrod said: "We are for a resolution that gives Florida and Michigan representation at the convention is fair and reasonable", suggesting that seating the delegates from both states in an even split between the two candidates would be the most acceptable outcome.
The Clinton campaign took the opportunity to criticise Mr Obama. "When it comes to the Michigan and Florida primaries, Senator Obama seems to only be capable of saying No: no to honouring the January elections, no to holding a new primary vote, no to a vote by mail," spokesman Phil Singer said.
"It is unacceptable to disenfranchise the voters who participated in January, and if Senator Obama allows that to happen, there will be implications for Democrats in the general election." -