Meet Jason Rae. He's 21, a junior at Marquette University, loves Netflix and college basketball. And along with President Clinton and Governor Rendell, he'll be casting his vote as a superdelegate at the Democratic National Convention this August.
Yes, you read that correctly - he's a 21-year-old superdelegate, the youngest of them all, and his vote will be equal in value to that of some 15,000 average-Joe voters like you and me.
Superdelegates - for those who haven't caught wind of the media maelstrom - are the 795 "unpledged" delegates to the nominating convention who'll make their own independent decisions about whom to support. The remaining 3,253 delegates are "pledged," their votes dictated by the results of each state's primary or caucus.
Because of the nail-biting closeness of this year's Democratic primary race, superdelegates will play a larger role than ever before in determining the nominee. Since unpledged delegates like Jason aren't required to cast their votes until the August convention, and it's mathematically impossible for either candidate to secure the necessary 2,025 delegates through pledged ones alone, superdelegates will likely have the final say.
Pundits and voters have united to decry the injustice of this system, fearing that after the people have spoken, the superdelegates - perhaps clad in superheroes' capes - will swoop in and steal the election. The loudest criers hail from the Obama camp, for the Illinois senator is the probable victim in this scenario. It is he who leads Senator Clinton in pledged delegates, but trails in superdelegates. And it is she who carries the reputation of political operator, adept at conducting backroom trades to seduce the supers.
The notion that 795 elites of the Washington establishment might handpick the Democratic nominee is certainly troublesome. An Obama girl myself, I'm especially disturbed that the power of the Clinton machinery might trump that of the populace's vote.
But after a conversation with Jason Rae and a peak into the secret life of a superdelegate, I came to believe that perhaps my fears are unfounded. Instead of deserving our holier-than-thou, power-to-the-people condemnation, the superdelegates might actually constitute one of the more democratic aspects of our nomination process.
Consider this superdelegate's story: As a politically interested 17-year-old, Jason decided to advance his role in our democracy and run for a spot on Wisconsin's Democratic National Committee. He gathered together a few hundred of his closet friends, hand-painted signs with the slogan, "A RAE of Hope for the Future," and managed to defeat two veteran Dems to become the DNC's youngest member.
Along with Democratic senators, representatives, governors, presidents, and party leaders, DNC members are automatic superdelegates.
"I wanted to ensure that my generation of voters had a voice at the national table," Jason explained.
This Wisconsin native has been spending the last several months lunching and chatting with the likes of President Clinton, Senator Obama, Chelsea Clinton and Senator Kerry about the prospects of the candidates.
"Each individual was able to give me valuable insight on how the campaign was going," he told me.
Instead of political wheeling-and-dealing, Jason engaged in meaningful dialogue with the campaigns, taking advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about the candidates' strengths and weaknesses and glean the information he required to make an informed decision.
"I never once felt as though the campaigns were putting pressure on me to vote for their candidate," he recalled. "They were encouraging me along the way, but never was it in a way that made me feel uncomfortable."
While it may be presumptuous to assume that all interplay between superdelegates and campaigns is this benign, Jason's experience sheds new light on the process. more
Showing posts with label superdelegates decide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label superdelegates decide. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Meet Jason the 21 Year Old Superdelegate
too young to be a superdelegate? nah. but jason's age brings up the question, just how do you get to be a super anyway. i'll look into that.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
this is my fifth in a series of 'what's on the minds of superdelegates and this one is action packed. the attention on the supers is heating up and we need to know who they are and what they're thinking. they will decide the contest, barring any major shift. the decision for them is also getting more complex. see my superdelegate tally in the sidebar, as well as add ons.
read on.
superdelegates are getting obstinate. the following set of blurbs are from a nyt piece:
Superdelegate Gray Sasser says he'll determine the "will of the people" - not your campaign.
"The will of the people is a very transitory term," said Sasser, an undecided superdelegate and head of the Tennessee state party. "The deciding factor for most superdelegates is, 'Who is going to be the best candidate to carry the Democratic banner?'"
............
"Hopefully they are not suggesting that any superdelegate who deviates from the will of the people is somehow acting inappropriately, because the rules were set up clearly to allow that level of discretion," countered Jerry Meek, a superdelegate and chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
Meek told the Daily News that he and other superdelegates have been under "a lot of pressure" to "go along with the will of the people, however that's measured."
Measuring the will of the people may be more difficult than it sounds. Is it the number of pledged delegates? Or the final tally of the popular vote?
The two numbers don't always jive: Clinton handily won the Nevada caucuses, but Obama won more pledged delegates from the Silver State because of a weighted allotment system.
Obama now wields a nearly insurmountable lead in pledged delegates. But if Clinton has boffo showings in the Pennsylvania primary April 22 and nabs repeat wins in the re-do of Florida and Michigan, she could surpass him in the popular vote.
.........
While many superdelegates said they intended to keep their options open as the race continued to play out over the next three months, the interviews suggested that the playing field was tilting slightly toward Mr. Obama in one potentially vital respect. Many of them said that in deciding whom to support, they would adopt what Mr. Obama’s campaign has advocated as the essential principle: reflecting the will of the voters.
Mr. Obama has won more states, a greater share of the popular vote and more pledged delegates than Mrs. Clinton.
the new york times did a poll of superdelegates:
A New York Times survey of superdelegates last week found that Mr. Obama had been winning over more of them recently than Mrs. Clinton had, though Mrs. Clinton retained an overall lead among those who have made a choice. Over the past month, according to the survey, Mr. Obama, of Illinois, picked up 54 superdelegates; Mrs. Clinton, of New York, picked up 31.
“If we get to the end and Senator Obama has won more states, has more delegates and more popular vote,” said Representative Jason Altmire, Democrat of Pennsylvania, who is undecided, “I would need some sort of rationale for why at that point any superdelegate would go the other way, seeing that the people have spoken.”
Mr. Altmire said he was repeating an argument that he made to Mrs. Clinton during a session at her house in Washington on Thursday night with uncommitted superdelegates.
.........
“This was everybody’s worse nightmare come to fruition,” said Richard Machacek, an uncommitted superdelegate from Iowa, who said he was struggling over what to do.
.........
In Ohio, Senator Sherrod Brown would seemingly have an easy task. Mrs. Clinton won his state by 10 points. If the nominating fight had to be resolved by party leaders, wouldn’t he side with her? Not necessarily.
“It’s the overall popular vote, it’s the overall delegates, it’s who is bringing energy to the campaign, it’s who has momentum,” Mr. Brown said. “It should be wrapped up before the convention, and I think it will be.”
.........
Representative John P. Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, is not wringing his hands. “I don’t see the problem,” he said. “People complain and criticize each other, and then they always work it out.”
.........
But Eileen Macoll, a Democratic county chairwoman from Washington State, is expecting something different — and not exactly looking forward to it. “I think it’s going to go all the way to the floor,” Ms. Macoll said. “We will take the vote and that will be the nominee. We’re going to see that happen.”
.........
“It think it has got to be brokered before the convention,” said Bill George, the head of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. in Pennsylvania. “I think there should be a couple of people — maybe Howard Dean and Al Gore, they have some credibility — to do it. Dean should call a meeting, and the two camps should be forced to do it.”
When asked how, Mr. George just laughed. “I just think the two campaigns have to do it,” he said. “I think we lose credibility in America if we let some group come in and do it.”
..........
But David Parker, a superdelegate from North Carolina, was not about to give much deference to any political leader in a contest that was of such consequence. “I don’t think too many people are going to listen to Howard Dean unless he appointed them,” Mr. Parker said. “The D.N.C. is not some monolithic group that is going to move as a body.”
..........
“Barack’s impressive showing in our state is attractive to me,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, where Mr. Obama beat Mrs. Clinton two to one in the popular vote last month. “If somehow 200 superdelegates decide this, it will be problematic.”
And there were indications that Mrs. Clinton is facing some questions among the superdelegates about her electability and her potential effect on other Democratic candidates in November.
..........
“A key question to me is how the candidates would affect the down-ballot races,” said Steven Achelpohl, the Democratic state chairman in Nebraska. “I think Obama would have a more positive impact on our other races out here in Nebraska.”
As of Friday, Mrs. Clinton claimed 254 superdelegates, and the Obama campaign said it had commitments from 213; the figures provided by the campaigns differed somewhat from those tallied by The Times.
Mr. Obama has won 1,367 delegates in primaries and caucuses, compared with 1,224 for Mrs. Clinton, based on a count and projection by The Times. A candidate needs 2,025 votes to win the nomination.
..........
There are 246 superdelegates who are not listed by either campaign as supporters and are viewed as uncommitted. Of those, 107 are from states where Mr. Obama won nominating contests, compared with 83 for Mrs. Clinton. An additional 56 come from states that have not yet voted.
Of the 246 uncommitted superdelegates, 75 are women, 10 are governors and 100 are in Congress. So far, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton are relatively even when it comes to competing for elected officials; Mrs. Clinton’s overall advantage among superdelegates has come from current and former party officials, reflecting the ties she and her husband have built over the years.
Some argued that the fighting between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama was good for the party, by keeping the candidates in the news and energizing Democrats. “People are just enthusiastic about their candidates — I don’t find any rancor here,” said Jennifer Moore, chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic Party.
..........
The superdelegates said in interviews that more than anything they wanted the contest resolved before Democrats assemble in Denver at the end of August.
“Every day that this continues, people can surmise that this is going to the convention in Colorado and it could be decided by the superdelegates,” said Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, the head of the Democratic Governors Association. “There is not a superdelegate that I have spoken to who wants that to happen.”
and there are some superdelegate spots that are up for grabs:
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are eager to court the eighth superdelegate from South Dakota, one of the 796 officially uncommitted voters at the Democratic convention whose support could put either of the candidates over the top in the race for the party's presidential nomination.
There's just one problem: The state's last superdelegate spot is empty, and won't be filled until June.
"Any Joe Democrat or Jane Democrat can apply," said Rick Hauffe, the state Democratic party's executive director.
Indeed, while the candidates focus their attention on the remaining 10 primaries, beginning with next month's in Pennsylvania, a parallel process to pick the remaining superdelegates is unfolding that could have an equally important impact on the race.
here's a recent obama superdelegate:
A local superdelegate has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, Obama's presidential campaign announced Friday.
Melissa Schroeder, a Merrill resident and secretary for the Democratic Party in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, had said she would not make a decision until after the state's Feb. 19 primary. Obama won 58 percent of the vote in Wisconsin to rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's 41 percent.
chroeder said Obama, D-Ill., would be the unifying candidate who could win the November general election.
"When all was said and done, I felt Obama was more electable," Schroeder told the Wausau Daily Herald. "He's going to be a unifier, and he will win over Independents as well as Republicans."
As she debated her decision, Schroeder said she fielded periodic phone calls from supporters of both Democratic candidates. After the March 4 primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island, however, Schroeder said she did not receive a call from either campaign.
"It was a process I went through without any persuasion," she said. "They pretty much left me alone for awhile."
Obama’s Superdelegate Momentum
new: demconwatch will be tracking those superdelegates that will back the delegate leader.
Who Can Beat McCain?
On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
read on.
superdelegates are getting obstinate. the following set of blurbs are from a nyt piece:
Superdelegate Gray Sasser says he'll determine the "will of the people" - not your campaign.
"The will of the people is a very transitory term," said Sasser, an undecided superdelegate and head of the Tennessee state party. "The deciding factor for most superdelegates is, 'Who is going to be the best candidate to carry the Democratic banner?'"
............
"Hopefully they are not suggesting that any superdelegate who deviates from the will of the people is somehow acting inappropriately, because the rules were set up clearly to allow that level of discretion," countered Jerry Meek, a superdelegate and chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party.
Meek told the Daily News that he and other superdelegates have been under "a lot of pressure" to "go along with the will of the people, however that's measured."
Measuring the will of the people may be more difficult than it sounds. Is it the number of pledged delegates? Or the final tally of the popular vote?
The two numbers don't always jive: Clinton handily won the Nevada caucuses, but Obama won more pledged delegates from the Silver State because of a weighted allotment system.
Obama now wields a nearly insurmountable lead in pledged delegates. But if Clinton has boffo showings in the Pennsylvania primary April 22 and nabs repeat wins in the re-do of Florida and Michigan, she could surpass him in the popular vote.
.........
While many superdelegates said they intended to keep their options open as the race continued to play out over the next three months, the interviews suggested that the playing field was tilting slightly toward Mr. Obama in one potentially vital respect. Many of them said that in deciding whom to support, they would adopt what Mr. Obama’s campaign has advocated as the essential principle: reflecting the will of the voters.
Mr. Obama has won more states, a greater share of the popular vote and more pledged delegates than Mrs. Clinton.
the new york times did a poll of superdelegates:
A New York Times survey of superdelegates last week found that Mr. Obama had been winning over more of them recently than Mrs. Clinton had, though Mrs. Clinton retained an overall lead among those who have made a choice. Over the past month, according to the survey, Mr. Obama, of Illinois, picked up 54 superdelegates; Mrs. Clinton, of New York, picked up 31.
“If we get to the end and Senator Obama has won more states, has more delegates and more popular vote,” said Representative Jason Altmire, Democrat of Pennsylvania, who is undecided, “I would need some sort of rationale for why at that point any superdelegate would go the other way, seeing that the people have spoken.”
Mr. Altmire said he was repeating an argument that he made to Mrs. Clinton during a session at her house in Washington on Thursday night with uncommitted superdelegates.
.........
“This was everybody’s worse nightmare come to fruition,” said Richard Machacek, an uncommitted superdelegate from Iowa, who said he was struggling over what to do.
.........
In Ohio, Senator Sherrod Brown would seemingly have an easy task. Mrs. Clinton won his state by 10 points. If the nominating fight had to be resolved by party leaders, wouldn’t he side with her? Not necessarily.
“It’s the overall popular vote, it’s the overall delegates, it’s who is bringing energy to the campaign, it’s who has momentum,” Mr. Brown said. “It should be wrapped up before the convention, and I think it will be.”
.........
Representative John P. Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, is not wringing his hands. “I don’t see the problem,” he said. “People complain and criticize each other, and then they always work it out.”
.........
But Eileen Macoll, a Democratic county chairwoman from Washington State, is expecting something different — and not exactly looking forward to it. “I think it’s going to go all the way to the floor,” Ms. Macoll said. “We will take the vote and that will be the nominee. We’re going to see that happen.”
.........
“It think it has got to be brokered before the convention,” said Bill George, the head of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. in Pennsylvania. “I think there should be a couple of people — maybe Howard Dean and Al Gore, they have some credibility — to do it. Dean should call a meeting, and the two camps should be forced to do it.”
When asked how, Mr. George just laughed. “I just think the two campaigns have to do it,” he said. “I think we lose credibility in America if we let some group come in and do it.”
..........
But David Parker, a superdelegate from North Carolina, was not about to give much deference to any political leader in a contest that was of such consequence. “I don’t think too many people are going to listen to Howard Dean unless he appointed them,” Mr. Parker said. “The D.N.C. is not some monolithic group that is going to move as a body.”
..........
“Barack’s impressive showing in our state is attractive to me,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, where Mr. Obama beat Mrs. Clinton two to one in the popular vote last month. “If somehow 200 superdelegates decide this, it will be problematic.”
And there were indications that Mrs. Clinton is facing some questions among the superdelegates about her electability and her potential effect on other Democratic candidates in November.
..........
“A key question to me is how the candidates would affect the down-ballot races,” said Steven Achelpohl, the Democratic state chairman in Nebraska. “I think Obama would have a more positive impact on our other races out here in Nebraska.”
As of Friday, Mrs. Clinton claimed 254 superdelegates, and the Obama campaign said it had commitments from 213; the figures provided by the campaigns differed somewhat from those tallied by The Times.
Mr. Obama has won 1,367 delegates in primaries and caucuses, compared with 1,224 for Mrs. Clinton, based on a count and projection by The Times. A candidate needs 2,025 votes to win the nomination.
..........
There are 246 superdelegates who are not listed by either campaign as supporters and are viewed as uncommitted. Of those, 107 are from states where Mr. Obama won nominating contests, compared with 83 for Mrs. Clinton. An additional 56 come from states that have not yet voted.
Of the 246 uncommitted superdelegates, 75 are women, 10 are governors and 100 are in Congress. So far, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton are relatively even when it comes to competing for elected officials; Mrs. Clinton’s overall advantage among superdelegates has come from current and former party officials, reflecting the ties she and her husband have built over the years.
Some argued that the fighting between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama was good for the party, by keeping the candidates in the news and energizing Democrats. “People are just enthusiastic about their candidates — I don’t find any rancor here,” said Jennifer Moore, chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic Party.
..........
The superdelegates said in interviews that more than anything they wanted the contest resolved before Democrats assemble in Denver at the end of August.
“Every day that this continues, people can surmise that this is going to the convention in Colorado and it could be decided by the superdelegates,” said Gov. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, the head of the Democratic Governors Association. “There is not a superdelegate that I have spoken to who wants that to happen.”
and there are some superdelegate spots that are up for grabs:
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are eager to court the eighth superdelegate from South Dakota, one of the 796 officially uncommitted voters at the Democratic convention whose support could put either of the candidates over the top in the race for the party's presidential nomination.
There's just one problem: The state's last superdelegate spot is empty, and won't be filled until June.
"Any Joe Democrat or Jane Democrat can apply," said Rick Hauffe, the state Democratic party's executive director.
Indeed, while the candidates focus their attention on the remaining 10 primaries, beginning with next month's in Pennsylvania, a parallel process to pick the remaining superdelegates is unfolding that could have an equally important impact on the race.
here's a recent obama superdelegate:
A local superdelegate has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, Obama's presidential campaign announced Friday.
Melissa Schroeder, a Merrill resident and secretary for the Democratic Party in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, had said she would not make a decision until after the state's Feb. 19 primary. Obama won 58 percent of the vote in Wisconsin to rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's 41 percent.
chroeder said Obama, D-Ill., would be the unifying candidate who could win the November general election.
"When all was said and done, I felt Obama was more electable," Schroeder told the Wausau Daily Herald. "He's going to be a unifier, and he will win over Independents as well as Republicans."
As she debated her decision, Schroeder said she fielded periodic phone calls from supporters of both Democratic candidates. After the March 4 primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island, however, Schroeder said she did not receive a call from either campaign.
"It was a process I went through without any persuasion," she said. "They pretty much left me alone for awhile."
Obama’s Superdelegate Momentum
new: demconwatch will be tracking those superdelegates that will back the delegate leader.
Who Can Beat McCain?
On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Pelosi Warns Superdelegates Not to Meddle
house speaker has tried to remain neutral but alas she's speaking out.
she says superdelegates should NOT overturn the pledged delegates, so the candidate with the lead in pledged delegates should be the nominee. we know that obama leads by 142 and that it's mathematically impossible for clinton to catch up, unless she cheats and that's what's she's doing at every turn. she tried to get michigan and florida delegates seated as is. her new dirty tactic is to repeat over and over that obama is unelectable. she's even having a soiree at her house for the uncommitted supers. perhaps there, she can get them in private and promise a favor or two in return for votes.
"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
The California Democrat did not mention either Obama or his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, by name. But her remarks seemed to suggest she was prepared to cast her ballot at the convention in favor of the candidate who emerges from the primary season with the most pledged delegates.
Obama leads Clinton by 142 pledged delegates — those delegates picked in nomination contests to date, in The Associated Press' count.
Barring an unlikely string of landslide victories by the former first lady in the remaining states, he will end the primary season with a delegate lead, but short of the 2025 needed to win the nomination.
That gives the balance of power to the so-called superdelegates, prominent Democrats who are automatically entitled to attend the convention because of their status as members of Congress or other leaders. Clinton leads Obama for their support in the AP count, 249-213.
Pelosi's comments could influence other House Democrats who are neutral in the presidential race and will attend the convention as superdelegates.
In her interview, Pelosi also said that even if one candidate winds up with a larger share of the popular vote than the delegate leader, the candidate who has more delegates should prevail.
"It's a delegate race," she said. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."
More than 500 delegates remain to be picked in primaries beginning on April 22 in Pennsylvania, which has 158 at stake on April 22. moreObama’s Superdelegate Momentum
Clinton Must Win Pennsylvania
It’s Still Over for Clinton
Who Can Beat McCain?
she says superdelegates should NOT overturn the pledged delegates, so the candidate with the lead in pledged delegates should be the nominee. we know that obama leads by 142 and that it's mathematically impossible for clinton to catch up, unless she cheats and that's what's she's doing at every turn. she tried to get michigan and florida delegates seated as is. her new dirty tactic is to repeat over and over that obama is unelectable. she's even having a soiree at her house for the uncommitted supers. perhaps there, she can get them in private and promise a favor or two in return for votes.
WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says it would be damaging to the Democratic party for its leaders to buck the will of national convention delegates picked in primaries and caucuses, a declaration that gives a boost to Sen. Barack Obama.
"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
The California Democrat did not mention either Obama or his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, by name. But her remarks seemed to suggest she was prepared to cast her ballot at the convention in favor of the candidate who emerges from the primary season with the most pledged delegates.
Obama leads Clinton by 142 pledged delegates — those delegates picked in nomination contests to date, in The Associated Press' count.
Barring an unlikely string of landslide victories by the former first lady in the remaining states, he will end the primary season with a delegate lead, but short of the 2025 needed to win the nomination.
That gives the balance of power to the so-called superdelegates, prominent Democrats who are automatically entitled to attend the convention because of their status as members of Congress or other leaders. Clinton leads Obama for their support in the AP count, 249-213.
Pelosi's comments could influence other House Democrats who are neutral in the presidential race and will attend the convention as superdelegates.
In her interview, Pelosi also said that even if one candidate winds up with a larger share of the popular vote than the delegate leader, the candidate who has more delegates should prevail.
"It's a delegate race," she said. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."
More than 500 delegates remain to be picked in primaries beginning on April 22 in Pennsylvania, which has 158 at stake on April 22. moreObama’s Superdelegate Momentum
Clinton Must Win Pennsylvania
It’s Still Over for Clinton
Who Can Beat McCain?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
this is the fourth part of my ongoing: what's on the minds of superdelegates.
in california where 29 support clinton and 13 back Obama and 23 are uncommitted, one super doesn't want to say because he's a typical politician up for election and doesn't want to alienate anyone:
another super compares the candidates to choosing between children:
some still can't see the differences between the two candidates (which rocks are they living under?)
speaker of the house nancy pelosi has been trying to remain steady:
one super said he'll support whoever will promise to get latinos to the polls. that's sort of wishy washy.
On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
Clinton’s Deliberate Race Baiting
Who Can Beat McCain?
in california where 29 support clinton and 13 back Obama and 23 are uncommitted, one super doesn't want to say because he's a typical politician up for election and doesn't want to alienate anyone:
Freshman Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton has enough to worry about this year: He's in a swing district, and Republicans are working feverishly to unseat him this November.
Now he has another headache: As one of 796 Democratic superdelegates, he could help tilt the presidential nomination to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama or New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. But supporting either one could alienate fans of the other - which could cost McNerney votes he needs this fall.
No surprise, then, that the 56-year-old former wind engineer would prefer to avoid the choice altogether: "I'll make a decision when I have to."
McNerney is not alone. Some superdelegates relish their power in determining the party's nominee, but interviews with uncommitted California superdelegates suggest that many are torn over which candidate to support and are conflicted about their role.
another super compares the candidates to choosing between children:
"It's like saying, 'Which are your favorite children?' How are you going to choose?" said Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel. "I like them both. I think they would be great together."
Farr's district was divided in California's Feb. 5 primary: Santa Cruz County voted for Obama, while Monterey and Salinas backed Clinton.
some still can't see the differences between the two candidates (which rocks are they living under?)
"I'm keeping my eyes on the prize," said Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont. "The differences between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama pale in comparison to their disagreements with John McCain."
speaker of the house nancy pelosi has been trying to remain steady:
Pelosi said she will support whichever Democrat finishes the race with the most elected delegates. The position echoes Obama's view that superdelegates should follow the voters, but Pelosi said her position is based on her own experience in grassroots political organizing. She said that to stay engaged, voters must be convinced that they - not party leaders - chose the nominee.
"How are you going to go back after the convention and convene a phone bank and ask people to get out the vote and tell people their vote will count unless you have a process that is transparent, that is fair and that is inclusive?" Pelosi said. She insisted it was the best way to "respect the public's verdict."
one super said he'll support whoever will promise to get latinos to the polls. that's sort of wishy washy.
Superdelegate Steve Ybarra, 60, who teaches at Sacramento City College and is active in state politics, said he will base his decision solely on which candidate promises to do more to register Latinos to vote and to get them to the polls in November.a list of california's undecideds
"I'm waiting for those candidates to tell us what he or she is doing for those Latino voters," Ybarra said. He's taken many calls from both sides, but hasn't been convinced. "I haven't heard a significant commitment. What is the budget? Where is the plan? It's just that simple."
On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
Clinton’s Deliberate Race Baiting
Who Can Beat McCain?
Monday, March 10, 2008
On the Minds Of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
i'm convinced. superdelegates, most of them, will do the right thing and not overturn the vote of the people.
cnn:
i'm convinced. superdelegates, most of them, will do the right thing and not overturn the vote of the people.
cnn:
Brown's not saying who he'll endorse, but in an interview with CNN, he talked about what's important to making his decision.
"I weigh several things. I weigh who won my state, I weigh what issues they are talking about and how they're talking about those issues. I weigh how these candidates are doing nationally on delegate count and how they're doing nationally in popular vote," Brown said.
Right now, Obama leads in the overall delegate count, with 1,527 to Clinton's 1,428. But Clinton has the support of more superdelegates, based on those who have publicized their pick. Clinton's received the backing of 238 superdelegates, compared with Obama's 199. See how the delegate race might play out »
A candidate must get 2,024 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination.
Brown said momentum is also a factor in making his choice, and he held out hope that the decision for superdelegates would be easier after the next big primaries because a clear front-runner would emerge.
"I don't think this is going to go down to a backroom deal; nobody wants to overturn what voters have said," Brown said.
The superdelegate setup was established in 1982 to bring more moderate Democrats back to conventions, where their attendance had been dropping since the 1950s, and to reflect the party's mainstream more accurately.more
new: On the Minds of Superdelegates 1
On the Minds of Superdelegates 2
On the Minds of Superdelegates 3
On the Minds of Superdelegates 4
On the Minds of Superdelegates 5
Superdelegates, Superdelegates, Superdelegates
Clinton’s Deliberate Race Baiting
Who Can Beat McCain?
General Election Map and Calculator
Obama: the Un-Beholden President
Bogus Big States Argument
Obama’s Pennsylvania Strategy
It’s Still Over for Clinton
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Clintons to Promise Superdelegates Favors?
even if clinton gets a redo of michigan and florida, obama will still lead delegates. desperate, she, and hubby former prez bill can woo superdelegates with favors. will she? there is now the superdelegate transparency project.
superdelegates breaking her way is pretty much the only way clinton can win. but obama has the momentum with superdelegates.
Obama: the First Un-Beholden President
Obama’s Pennsylvania Strategy
Bogus Big States Argument
superdelegates breaking her way is pretty much the only way clinton can win. but obama has the momentum with superdelegates.
Obama: the First Un-Beholden President
Obama’s Pennsylvania Strategy
Bogus Big States Argument
Friday, March 07, 2008
Superdelegate Transparency Project
yahoo! in the traditional sense.
the superdelegate transparency project has everything you need to know about superdelegates.
superdelegates are going to decide who wins the nomination because there aren't enough delegates left to reach the end goal of 2025.
it counts 203 for obama and 243 for clinton. 348 undecided. the site lists superdelegates by state. i also keep an eye on this site, too, because it has been there since the beginning and it lists the add ons. the two sites agree on the superdelegate numbers.
Superdelegates explained
Superdelegates, Superdelegates, Superdelegates
superdelegate news:
Funkhouser wants to be a superdelegate from MissouriKansas City Star
Clinton, Obama camps woo undecided Texas superdelegatesHouston Chronicle
32 Lone Star superdelegates are courted, committed, confusedDallas Morning News
Oklahoma Democrats add Morgan as superdelegateKSWO
Vail Valley 'superdelegate' backs ObamaVail Daily News
Citizen-Driven Superdelegate Transparency Project Provides Best ...
Clinton's Wins Halt Superdelegate Calls to End Race (Update2)Bloomberg
State Democrats discover they have another 'superdelegate'Tulsa World -
Fidel Castro, the First SuperdelegateMother Jones
CMD Proud to Host Superdelegate Transparency Project on SourceWatchCommon Dreams
the superdelegate transparency project has everything you need to know about superdelegates.
superdelegates are going to decide who wins the nomination because there aren't enough delegates left to reach the end goal of 2025.
it counts 203 for obama and 243 for clinton. 348 undecided. the site lists superdelegates by state. i also keep an eye on this site, too, because it has been there since the beginning and it lists the add ons. the two sites agree on the superdelegate numbers.
Superdelegates explained
Superdelegates, Superdelegates, Superdelegates
superdelegate news:
Funkhouser wants to be a superdelegate from MissouriKansas City Star
Clinton, Obama camps woo undecided Texas superdelegatesHouston Chronicle
32 Lone Star superdelegates are courted, committed, confusedDallas Morning News
Oklahoma Democrats add Morgan as superdelegateKSWO
Vail Valley 'superdelegate' backs ObamaVail Daily News
Citizen-Driven Superdelegate Transparency Project Provides Best ...
Clinton's Wins Halt Superdelegate Calls to End Race (Update2)Bloomberg
State Democrats discover they have another 'superdelegate'Tulsa World -
Fidel Castro, the First SuperdelegateMother Jones
CMD Proud to Host Superdelegate Transparency Project on SourceWatchCommon Dreams
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Clinton Wins 3 States Nets Maybe 12 Delegates
delegates, delegates, delegates.
i see that there are some people (those who have better things to do and haven't learned the ins and outs of delegates) who don't realize that even though clinton wins states, doesn't mean she wins and that there is virtually no way she can win, even if she wins the next 16 states.
obama's lead is simply too big.
last night for example, she'll end up with less than 12 net delegates. the texas caucus vote is still being counted. so far, clinton won 185 last night, with her three "big" states and obama has 173, so far, with his vermont win.
in fact, obama is ahead at this point.
not to say clinton isn't going to try other techniques or apply hope, as in if she keeps going, she hopes obama will blunder.
this is how it stands:
Obama: 1360 delegates
superdelegates: 199 (obama added 2 to this number today)
total delegates: 1559
Clinton: 1220 delegates
superdelegates: 240
total delegates: 1460
for more superdelegates: Superdelegates explained
i see that there are some people (those who have better things to do and haven't learned the ins and outs of delegates) who don't realize that even though clinton wins states, doesn't mean she wins and that there is virtually no way she can win, even if she wins the next 16 states.
obama's lead is simply too big.
last night for example, she'll end up with less than 12 net delegates. the texas caucus vote is still being counted. so far, clinton won 185 last night, with her three "big" states and obama has 173, so far, with his vermont win.
in fact, obama is ahead at this point.
not to say clinton isn't going to try other techniques or apply hope, as in if she keeps going, she hopes obama will blunder.
this is how it stands:
Obama: 1360 delegates
superdelegates: 199 (obama added 2 to this number today)
total delegates: 1559
Clinton: 1220 delegates
superdelegates: 240
total delegates: 1460
for more superdelegates: Superdelegates explained
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Clinton's Superdelegate Lead Shrinks
hillary clinton's lead in superdelegates pledged to her has shrunk:
Mrs. Clinton is trailing in pledged delegates won thus far. She has won fewer states than Mr. Obama, and fewer total votes cast in those states. Though she leads among superdelegates, five weeks ago she had pledges from 71 percent of all superdelegates announced for either her or Mr. Obama, but that share has slipped to 57 percent.as you probably already know, superdelegates could decide the winner if neither candidate gets enough pledged delegates (that's you and me voting). but it seems that the superdelegates, who can vote for whomever they want, will do the right thing and go with the will of the people.
according to this delegate tracker: obama now has 182 and clinton has 241. the 296 that are left are either staying mum or haven't decided.
obama adds two more superdelegates today: john lewis and marianne stevens
in delegates, obama has 1,188 and clinton 1,033
superdelegates explained.
Obama’s speeches
what are presidential qualities?
Roosevelt was called inexperienced
Historians for Obama
Friday, February 15, 2008
Superdelegates To Decide Race
Up to date delegate tracker
that's according to today's analysis by the NYT.
the story says that obama won delegates in states where bush was strong in 2004 and that the race will be decided by superdelegates.
unless obama gets 81% of the pledged delegates (clinton would need 91%), the superdelegates will decide.
then... in the icky world of super duper delegates, this story from the atlantic journal constitution, says just because a superdelegate endorsed someone doesn't mean they'll actually cast a ballot for them. check this out:
the story says that obama won delegates in states where bush was strong in 2004 and that the race will be decided by superdelegates.
unless obama gets 81% of the pledged delegates (clinton would need 91%), the superdelegates will decide.
then... in the icky world of super duper delegates, this story from the atlantic journal constitution, says just because a superdelegate endorsed someone doesn't mean they'll actually cast a ballot for them. check this out:
Meanwhile, Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond told the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution on Friday that news of Scott's switch and the confusion
surrounding Lewis' position has not affected his own standing. But, he said, his endorsement of Clinton does not necessarily mean he'll cast a superdelegate ballot for her in August.
"I endorsed her in the primary and I stand by that endorsement," Thurmond said.
But there are two issues at work, he said: endorsements and superdelegate ballots. They are not necessarily the same thing, he said.
Being a superdelegate, Thurmond said, "means you have to pick the candidate that will best represent the party in the general election, irrespective of who you may have endorsed or may have supported during the primary and caucus process."
but that's just one superdelegate's opinion, which is why superdelegates deciding the race is a bad thing. will they stick to their endorsements or will they switch to the candidate with the popular vote and the most states?
update: feb. 16, superdelegates appear like they'll try to do the right thing. al gore to stay mum for now.
here are recent adds from this terrific blog, which is tracking delegates, superdelegates and endorsements.
2-13-08 - Added DNC Mary Ellen Early (CA) , Cecil Benjamin (VI) for Obama- Added DNC Yvonne Kennedy (AL) , DNC Randy Kelley (AL) for Clinton- Added DNC Raymond Jordan (MA), DNC David O'Brien (MA), DNC John Walsh (MA) and DNC Paul Kirk (MA) for Obama- Added DNC Debra DeLee (MA) and DNC Gus Bickford (MA) for Clinton- Added DNC Joyce Cusack (FL) for Obama- Added DNC Evelyn Richardson (PA), DNC Richard Port (HI) and DNC Chuck Mohlke FL) for Clinton- Added Gov. AnÃbal Acevedo Vilá (PR) for Obama- Added DNC Nicholas Nemec (SD) and DNC David Wilhelm (OH) for Obama. (Wilhelm had been (IL)).-Added DNC Ian Carleton (VT) for Obama- Removed DNC Mark Schauer (MI) (Clinton) Not a superdelegate.2-14-08 - Added DNC Will Cheek (TN) for Obama- Added DNC Jimmie Farris (TN) for Clinton- Added DNC Marcel Groen (PA) for Clinton- Added DNC Christine "Roz" Samuels (NJ) for Obama. Samuels switched from Clinton to uncommitted last week.- Added DNC Ed Tinsley (MT) for Obama- Switched Rep. David Scott (GA) from Clinton to Obama- Switched Rep. John Lewis (GA) from Clinton to Obama2-15-08 - Added DNC Ruth Rudy (PA) for Clinton- Added DNC Ian Murray (PA) for Clinton- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that John Lewis' office is denying reports that he has switched to Obama. We will move him back to the non-endorse list until this is sorted out.- Added Rep. Brian Baird (WA) , Dr. Celita Arroyo de Roques (PR) for Obama- DNC Sarah Swisher (IA) switches endorsements again. This time going from Clinton to Obama.- Added DNC Jack Billion (SD) and DNC Sharon Stroschein (SD) for Obama- Added DNC Marianne Spraggins (NY) for Obama- Added DNC John Davies (AK) for Obama2-15-08 - Added Marie Prezioso (WV) for ClintonAdded Mike Panetta (DC)# for Obama. Panetta, DC Statehood Representative, is an automatic add-on superdelegate from DC.
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