Clinton pressed this issue publicly at an appearance in Boca Raton in Palm Beach County, a key site in the battle between George W. Bush and Al Gore over the Florida presidential vote recount in 2000 that ultimately was decided by the Supreme Court.

Floridians "learned the hard way what happens when your votes aren't counted and the candidate with fewer votes is declared the winner," she told supporters. "The lesson of 2000 here in Florida is crystal clear: If any votes aren't counted, the will of the people isn't realized and our democracy is diminished."

"The people who voted did nothing wrong and it would be wrong to punish you," she added.

Obama wasn't asked about the delegate dispute at a town-hall meeting later in Kissimmee, but he did make a fleeting reference to his hope that Florida's delegation will be seated at the convention. He said nothing, however, about how the delegation's votes should be divided.

(China Daily via agencies May 22, 2008)