Clinton challenges Obama on Fla., Mich.

WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- Hillary Clinton threw the ball into Barack Obama's court Wednesday by asking him to call for the seating of the disputed Michigan and Florida delegations.

The Democratic National Committee has technically stripped the two states of their delegates to the August convention in Denver because they jumped the gun and held their primaries ahead of the scheduled dates.

Clinton won both states, and their delegates are seen as key to breaking open the close race for the presidential nomination. Obama was not on the ballot in either state.

Clinton sent a letter to the Obama camp asking him to publicly support either seating the delegates or holding new primaries, the Los Angeles Times said.

The Washington newspaper The Hill said Clinton told the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Wednesday that the situation had left Florida and Michigan voters in danger of being "excluded from our democratic process."