That, in turn, may depend on whether Sen. Barack Obama accepts the proposal.

On Friday, key Michigan Democratic officials proposed that the state Legislature authorize a full-scale, state-run, privately funded do-over primary for early June as a way to seat the state's delegates for the Democratic National Convention.

But state House Democrats are unlikely to move forward with a second nominating contest unless Obama is on board with the plan.

On Friday, after weeks of Obama saying he would accept any fair resolution to seating Michigan's disallowed delegates -- and comments from one of his officials this week saying a full do-over primary was an option -- his campaign said it needed more details.

"We will evaluate the details of any new proposed election carefully as well as any efforts to come to a fair seating of the delegates from Michigan," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign -- which trails Obama in the delegate count and is unlikely to make up the difference -- responded to the negotiators' plan by saying if there's no way to certify the results of the disallowed Jan. 15 primary, which she won, "there should be a new state primary."

Several of her backers, including Govs. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Jon Corzine of New Jersey, have offered to raise the money to pay for it.

Greg Bird, a spokesman for state House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Redford Township Democrat, said a bill authorizing the primary was to be moved with the understanding it would have the agreement of the Democratic National Committee and both campaigns.

For more than a week, four key Michigan negotiators -- Democratic U.S. Sen. Carl Levin; U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a Detroit Democrat and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus; Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell, and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger -- have been discussing the state's options for having its delegates seated at the national convention in Denver in August.

Michigan was stripped by the national party of its 156 delegates for scheduling an early primary. Florida lost its 211 delegates for the same reason.

None of the candidates campaigned in either state. In Michigan, Obama took his name off the ballot, and Clinton won handily.

In recent weeks, particularly following wins in Ohio and Texas, Clinton has called for her Michigan and Florida delegates to be seated, and pressure has grown on the DNC to figure out a way to have them counted without a fractious convention fight.

The legislation already has been drafted and is expected to be shown to key lawmakers this weekend.

The Clinton campaign said the negotiators "are demonstrating the kind of leadership needed to make every vote count, and we look forward to learning more details about what they propose."

DNC Chairman Howard Dean has called for a resolution of the issue.

On Friday, DNC spokesman Damien LaVera said the party was "happy to see they are making progress toward finding a way forward."

Beyond the expense of raising money to pay the state to run a primary, Democrats would face other costs. The campaigns would be expected to pump out millions of dollars to win a state as large as Michigan, depleting their reserves at a time when presumptive Republican nominee John McCain is sitting on his war chest. On the other hand, fund-raising for an eventual Democratic winner could increase.

Still, even if the candidates agreed and the Legislature quickly approved the bill -- and it would need a two-thirds vote to take immediate effect -- there are many hurdles, the largest being whether the city, township and county clerks could get ready for an election, which would likely be June 3.

Several city clerks in Oakland and Macomb counties expressed frustration Friday at such a prospect, wondering how they could round up election workers and find polling places. And they worried whether their communities would be reimbursed for the costs.

"It'll be a big hassle," said Sterling Heights City Clerk Walter Blessed.

Novi City Clerk Maryanne Cornelius said voters might be confused as to why they are being asked to vote again.

"We'll do it," she said. "However, I think it's really unfair to voters."

Before it gets to that stage, the Legislature would have to sign off, and that could be a tall order, with questions being asked about cost, where the money would come from and whether private funding for a primary sets a bad precedent.

Matt Marsden, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, said without a detailed plan from the Democrats, it's pointless to talk about legislative approval.

"If there's no plan, that means they're dumping it in the lap of the Legislature," Marsden said.

Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, an Obama supporter, said an agreement on a Democratic primary might come with strings attached by Republicans. He said they probably will want something in return.

"If we start talking about it, anything's possible," Johnson said. "Let's hope it works out for everybody, and everybody means the voters."