Jack & Jill Politics

Hat tip: Politicalinaction.com, and a JJP replier

From the McClatchy Washington Bureau:

Clinton aides threatened lawsuit over Texas caucuses, officials say
By Jay Root McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008

AUSTIN — The Texas Democratic Party warned Thursday that election night caucuses scheduled for next Tuesday could be delayed or disrupted after aides to Hillary Clinton threatened to sue over the party’s complicated delegate selection process.

In a letter sent out late Thursday to both the Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns, Texas Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn warned a lawsuit could ruin the Democrats’ effort to re-energize voters just as they are turning out in record numbers.

Spokesmen for both campaigns said there were no plans to sue ahead of the March 4 election.

“It has been brought to my attention that one or both of your campaigns may already be planning or intending to pursue litigation against the Texas Democratic Party,” Dunn wrote in the letter, obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated Democratic process.”

Democratic sources said both campaigns have made it clear that they might consider legal options over the complicated delegate selection process, which includes both a popular vote and evening caucuses. But the sources made it clear that the Clinton campaign in particular had warned of an impending lawsuit.

“Both campaigns have made it clear that they would go there if they had to, but I think the imminent threat is coming from one campaign,” said one top Democratic official, referring to the Clinton campaign. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another Democratic official who was privvy to the discussions confirmed that Clinton representatives made veiled threats in a telephone call this week.

“Officials from Sen. Clinton’s campaign at several times throughout the call raised the specter of ‘challenging the process,’ the official said. “The call consisted of representatives from both campaigns and the Democratic Party.”

The source, who asked not to identified by name because he did not have authorization to speak about the matter, said Clinton ‘s political director, Guy Cecil, had forcefully raised the possibility of a courtroom battle.

Rest of article HERE.

It’s not Obama’s fault that Clinton didn’t have a post-February 5th plan. And, it’s not like the Texas rules were invented in the dead of night on February 5th. They’ve been there all along. This changing the rules in the middle of the game garbage has got to go.

UPDATE: Copy of letter from Texas Democratic Party is HERE.