June 2 - Florida and Michigan will count, by half. Clinton threatens extended primary.

It was a tumultuous day at a Marriott Hotel in Washington DC where the Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee decided to award Florida and Michigan half of their delegates.

The party called for unity.

Party head, Howard Dean.

"We need to come together and unite this party and each of us has a responsibility to ensure that that happens. Part of that healing will start today with a very spirited discussion I am sure."

What they got – deep division.

"McCain will be the winner in November. I am not a Democrat anymore because they don't want me. The Democrats are throwing the election away for what? An inadequate black male who would not have been running had it not been a white woman running."

Clinton supporters who arrived at 7 am to begin their day long protest and attend the meeting emerged after the decision angry, saddened, and determined.

Denver, Denver, Denver

After the Rules Committee heard from both campaigns, Florida and Michigan they broke for what was supposed to be an hour lunch break but turned into a three hour negotiating session where a decision was reached: on Florida - to seat all delegates, allocate them based on the January 29th primary and give each delegate a half a vote. Committee members agreed unanimously. But Michigan proved to be more difficult. Obama's name was not on the ballot. Obama wanted to divide the delegates evenly. Clinton wanted most of the delegates. The rules committee adopted a compromise offered by the Michigan Democratic party.

Harold Ickes, Clinton strategist and member of the rules committee angrily objected. He said Michigan's vote has been hijacked.

"There's been a lot of rhetoric in this meeting about democracy and on and on and on. I am stunned that we have the gall and the chutzpah to substitute our judgment for 600,000 voters."

Even Clinton supporters on the committee supported the outcome. Donald Fowler, Democratic Party Chair under President Clinton.

"This is not my first choice. It is the result of extensive discussions and negotiations but I think in the best interest of the party and electing a democrat in November we should support this. I say that to my good friend Harold Ickes. I respect and love you but this is my position."

Ickes threatened to challenge the decision to another Democratic Party committee, a process that could draw the primary out until the end of July.

The combined decision nets Senator Clinton 25 delegates as the rules committee. Obama is now 170 delegates ahead of Senator Clinton. The magic number is now 2118.

But Barack Obama is expected to hit the necessary threshold in coming days, with the help of super delegates and the final primary contests on Tusday. He plans to officially start the general election campaign Tuesday with a rally in Minnesota at the sight Republicans will hold their convention.

He must then work to do what Democrats hoped the rules and bylaws committee would do: unite the Democratic party.

For analysis on the decision, we turn to Steven Hill, Director of Political Reform at the New America Foundation.