Superdelegates and the Democratic Nomination

The close race for the Democratic presidential nomination has focused national attention on the Democratic superdelegates, elected officials and committee members who comprise about one-fifth of all delegates, and the possibility that they could function as tiebreakers. While skeptics argue that superdelegates have never voted against the frontrunner after the primaries and won’t start now, many question whether, in this election cycle, the party elite could overrule the popular will.

The Good, The Bad, The Confusing

THE POLITICAL VOICES OF WOMEN - Catherine Morgan explains who qualifies as a superdelegate and what their voting responsibilities are. She explains why many Democrats are concerned that the 2008 nomination may be determined by superdelegates. Morgan notes that the superdelegate issue could cause a huge controversy within the Democratic party....

Not The Time To Count Super Delegates

OPEN LEFT - Chris Bowers decries the brouhaha over superdelegates. Noting that, in the past, superdelegates have overwhelmingly cast their convention votes for the candidate with the most regular delegates, Bowers remarks that superdelegates’ loyalties frequently waiver. By covering the issue so intensely this early in the game, he argues, the media has made much ado about nothing....

Internal Discontent Over Superdelegates

UNCOMMITTED DELEGATES - PA For Uncommitted Delegates responds to Donna Brazile’s threat to leave the Democratic Party if her fellow superdelegates go against the will of the voters at the convention. If Brazile, a party stalwart, thinks that the Democratic nomination process could be corrupted, it suggests that this process is in dire need of reform....

2.11.08

11:22 AM -

The problem with Primaries

alexva - This is just going to hurt the Democratic party in the long run when it comes down to a convention showdown. Even Howard Dean has acknowledged that this is a real threat to party cohesion and some "back room" deals might have to be cut. This just exemplifies the problem of early voting. Wait until half of the Democratic party sees their vote and hard work tossed to the wind, talk about voter disenfranchisement come November.

11:01 AM -

Oh Politics

sultanofswing - This is Democracy '08. Gotta love it. Just because they win the populist vote, why should that mean that they won an election? They need to win the people that really matter - their peers. So this election will come down to who is the better congressional schmoozer and who has the bigger political machine behind them. So much for all of the Democrats attacks on Republican Gerrymandering. They've figured out their own form.

10:54 AM -

Momentum & Clinton

azp - Right now Clinton is winning the superdelegate race 2 to 1. But after Obama's big weekend, he could really pick up the pace. I mean, if people think Obama is going to win, no one wants to back someone on her way to losing the primary

09:32 AM -

Here's a couple

Anonymous - What are some examples of Super delegates? Here are a couple.... Bill Clinton (yes, Hillary's husband's vote counts for more than your neighborhood). Al Gore. JIMMY CARTER....... This seems awfully undemocratic for a democracy.

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