2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Krugman: Sanders campaign needs to stop feeding the right-wing disinformation machine [View all]Armstead
(47,803 posts)They are not pledged delegates with an obligation.
They have free will to make choices. Their choices can be based on any number of factors. Ideally they would agree to reflect the opinions of the voters in the geographic reaas they represent. However, they also might do it on the basis of their own preferred candidate. or they might be pragmatic and go with who seems the most viable candidate in the General at the time of the convention.
Most of them cast their lot with Clinton early on. However, since then Sanders has shown surprising strength. If that continues, then Sanders would have a valid case to make to try to convince them o support him instead of Clinton.
It is not the most democratic way to run the process. But trying to convince them to support one's candidacy is totally legitimate if circumstances justify it after the primaries.