DNC panel ponders delegate seating

WASHINGTON, May 21 (UPI) -- Arguments about seating delegates from Michigan and Florida will be presented to the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee.

The panel is scheduled to meet May 31 in Washington to hear all sides regarding how -- or if -- the delegates should be counted during the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. The DNC stripped the states of their delegates -- 210 in Florida and 156 in Michigan -- after the states advanced the dates of their primaries.

Challengers will have 15 minutes each to present their arguments to the committee before it considers the matter, the DNC said Wednesday in a release. Representatives from the state's parties and the presidential campaigns also may address the committee.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who won in both states, has argued that the delegates should be seated at the convention. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was not on the ballot in either state.

Arguments will be heard during the morning and the committee will deliberate during the afternoon, the DNC said.