Democrats Abroad brings back half delegates

Clinton, Obama each add 1.5 delegates to their convention totals

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updated 12:42 p.m. ET April 21, 2008

WASHINGTON - The half delegates are back, thanks to a group of Democrats living in other countries.

The Democrats Abroad, which will get 11 votes at the Democratic National Convention this summer, on Monday announced the results of its global convention, and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton each added 1.5 delegates to their totals.

Obama won the backing of 13 delegates, who will each get a half vote at the national convention in Denver in August. That translates into 6.5 votes.

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Clinton won the backing of seven delegates, for a total of 3.5 votes.

Two of the group's superdelegates — who will get one vote between them — remain uncommitted.

The convention was held April 12-13 in Vancouver, Canada.

Obama already had won the group's global primary in February, picking up three delegates to 1.5 for Clinton. With superdelegate endorsements, Obama held a 5-2 edge over Clinton before the global convention.

The outcome of the Democrats Abroad convention ensures that both candidates will have a half delegate tacked onto their totals — at least until the group's remaining superdelegates endorse.

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Party rules allow for delegates with a half vote so that more people can attend the national convention from far-flung places.

Democratic parties in U.S. territories also send twice their allotted delegates, giving them each a half vote. But their systems are designed to ensure that that candidates do not end up with fractions of delegates.

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