Hillary Clinton's "Hail Mary" effort to win the Democratic nomination with the help of delegates from the disputed Florida and Michigan primaries appears to be an exercise in futility.

The Democratic National Committee stripped the two states of their delegates for defying the party and moving their primaries toward the front of the line last January. The candidates all agreed not to campaign in either state. Clinton won both elections and is arguing that all of the delegates she won from the disputed elections be seated at the Democratic convention. Her name was the only one on the Michigan ballot.

A DNC panel will decide what to do about the delegations in a meeting May 31st.

The Associated Press has interviewed panel members and other key Democrats and finds widespread agreement that the Florida and Michigan parties must be punished for stepping out of line.

Even if the delegates were seated, Clinton still couldn't catch up with Barack Obama's growing delegate lead, but neither candidate will be able to claim victory until receiving at least 2,026 pledged delegates. Barack Obama currently has 1,898 compared to Hillary Clinton's 1,718 delegates.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)