DNC may see gridlock, delegate dust-up

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The nip-and-tuck race for the Democratic presidential nod points up the hole created by the missing 366 delegates from Florida and Michigan, officials said.

U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are separated by less than 100 delegates, raising the specter of a divided convention and a divided party going into the November election, USA Today reported.

"If there is true gridlock, the prospects are not good that we would have a positive convention," said Don Fowler, a former national party chairman and Clinton supporter. "This would be a train wreck."

Obama leads Clinton in popular votes and delegates. Clinton however, won in Florida and Michigan, but no delegates because the Democratic National Committee punished the states for advancing their primaries, stripping Florida of its 210 delegates and Michigan of its 156. Clinton, who won both primaries, would get most -- but not all -- of those delegates.

Clinton is pressing to seat the delegates at the convention. Obama campaign officials said Clinton is attempting to circumvent party rules.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, said she didn't relish her role as a superdelegate.

"Let's hope and pray … that someone will emerge as a winner and be out in front far enough that the super delegates won't matter," she told USA Today.