"This is some pretty country,” Obama observed. “I think I need to learn fly fishing. Get some waders, go out there, clear my head. We may have to come back to Missoula. There’s no doubt about it,” he said to about 8,000 people at the University of Montana at Missoula.

Both Democrats are campaigning in “Big Sky Country” today, and both Obama and Senator Clinton will speak at tonight’s Mansfield-Metcalf dinner in Butte. The candidates are fighting for each of the state’s 16 pledged delegates, up for grabs in the state’s primary on June 3rd. Montana, a rural red state with a largely caucasian populace, is the kind of state where Barack Obama has done well in past primaries, where his ability to appeal to Independent voters has played well in similar states.

“I didn’t know if it was going to work – me coming out here – black guy, funny name, you know, big ears,” he said with a smile. “What we knew was if we were going to be able to compete, it would have to be a grassroots movement that people would have to get organized and make it happen, and that’s what’s happened, that’s why we’ve won twice as many states as the other candidate in this race,” he said, referencing Senator Clinton, who has done well in more traditional Democratic states like California and New York and in states where there is a large working class population like Ohio.

There are 57,000 residents of Missoula, Montana, so 8,000 is a pretty impressive turnout, don't you think? Of course, it is not as impressive as getting 18,000 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, which has only 50,000 residents. But, still...

Clinton had a novel idea for those North Dakota voters. They don't count.

Sen. Hillary Clinton made a blunt appeal to North Dakota delegates to switch their support to her, despite the fact that Sen. Barack Obama handily defeated her in the state's caucus in February...

...Clinton made it clear to North Dakota Democrats last night that she believes there is no such thing as a pledged delegate and highlighted that stubborn streak in her appeal for delegates to switch from Obama to her when the Democratic national party holds its nominating convention this August.

I am going to say this very slowly so even Jerome Armstrong, Taylor Marsh, and Armando can understand it.

When you go to vote in a primary you don't vote for Clinton or Obama; you vote for their delegates. If those delegates switch their allegiance then they just robbed you of your vote. It's as if you cast you vote for the other candidate. Caucuses work the same way. You pledge your preference for a candidate and the delegates are selected based on your preference.

Now, I know it would be nice if Florida and Michigan could have a good, clean, fun vote where their preferences could be voiced. But, using Clinton's logic, why should they bother?