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In reply to the discussion: Democrats Are Considering Dropping Superdelegates Altogether [View all]NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Barring an epic collapse or withdrawal for health issues (or that indictment that was coming "any day now" for 2+ years), Clinton wrapped up the nomination after the first Super Tuesday with just conventional delegates. Since Democratic delegates are almost always apportioned by percentage of the vote, all those southern states where she won big huge margins gave her an almost insurmountable lead. (Republicans have several "winner take all" states)
Oh, and superdelegates pledged to Clinton was an issue for Democrats even before the Iowa Caucuses in 2008. it became bigger again later in the process because Clinton was narrowly behind Obama for the last 2 months of the campaign and some Clinton people brought up the idea of superdelegates overturning the results. After Super Tuesday 2016, Clinton was ahead by over 150 delegates, while in 2008, while Obama was only ahead by 27 delegates after the equivalent Super Tuesday.
By the end of March 2008, Obama was only ahead by 30 delegates, while in 2016, Clinton had extended her lead to about 200 delegates at the end of March. That it was a race was a creation of the media because it didn't look at the facts of what was happening - Sanders netting +14 delegates in Indiana, Rhode Island and West Virginia and doesn't come close to offsetting Clinton just winning Maryland and netting +25 delegates (60 for Clinton, 35 for Sanders)