Clinton, Obama search for 'super delegates': Could make difference in close contest

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Clinton, Obama search for heroes in 'super delegates'
Endorsements -- and the Democratic players behind them -- could make the difference in a close contest.
By Peter Nicholas and Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
January 14, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Now that no clear Democratic front-runner has emerged from the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, a campaign that had been all about momentum and money has become a furious race for the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. That gives newfound weight to the preferences of major Democratic Party leaders and elected officials, who can provide organizational help, fundraising aid and a network of supporters. But the endorsements matter for another reason. Unlike past nominating contests, this one may be so close and protracted that the votes of "super delegates" could prove decisive.

Super delegates are House members, senators, party officials and other elected leaders who get to attend the Democratic presidential convention in August because of their positions and are free to vote their personal preferences. They are not bound by votes in their respective states.

So there are essentially two campaigns unfolding simultaneously: one for rank-and-file voters; the other for the 796 super delegates who account for nearly 40% of the total needed to win. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York now leads with 163 super delegates, and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has 64, according to an Associated Press tally....

***

The maneuvering for super delegates reflects a campaign that has taken unpredictable turns, forcing candidates to improvise on the fly. Until recently, few believed the race might stretch past Feb. 5, when 24 states including California hold primaries and caucuses....But even after the bonanza of delegates is doled out on what is being called Super Duper Tuesday, the race could be up for grabs. That's because the winners of these contests do not automatically scoop up all of the delegates. Rather, in California, New York and elsewhere, delegates are awarded in proportional fashion. Clinton or Obama could finish a strong second and conceivably pick up enough delegates to deprive the other of the magic number needed to lock up the nomination.

So the contest could still be in limbo after Feb. 5, giving super delegates enhanced influence....

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-endorse14jan14,0,1754816,full.story?coll=la-home-center

[rhett o rick]

1. Super-delegates is BS as already shown. Per grassroots Clinton has a small margin

but include the super-duper-delegates and she has a large lead. We must ditch the super-delegate bs.

[MessiahRp]

2. As I said in my post this past Friday, the entire Super Delegate system is bullshit.

Just another way that the Democratic Party tries to keep the power within a group of power having insiders while drowning out the voice of the people who elect them.

Look at how Progressives and the grass roots are ignored and you see a party purposely set up to do what we accuse Republicans of doing... keeping those connected with corporate interests in power.

Don't believe me? Watch how Chuck Schumer and the DSCC and Rahm Emanuel and his DCCC push support to those who support that spineless, corporatist status quo.

This is why our party loses so often and this is why people perceive us as having no spine... because those in control of the party want us to have no spine or ability to fight against the corrupt elements in charge.

Rp

[OHdem10]

3. Bush VGore:: Bush received Delegates and Gore won Popular Vote