What if the primaries are close, but Obama wins more delegates, but Hillary wins the nomination...

[SteppingRazor]

because superdelegates put her over the top?

Are we talking 1968 Democratic Convention?
A victory for the GOP in November as disillusioned first-time voters stay home?
A simple shrug of the shoulders and then everyone moves on?
What's your take? Because at this point, I think this is the best way Hillary has of getting the nomination -- getting enough delegates to make it reasonably close and maintaining the loyalty of the superdelegates.

[Occam Bandage]

1. What if the numbers are close, but Hillary declares herself Empress for Life and the army backs her?

About as realistic as your question.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Why is it unrealistic?

:shrug:

On edit: I mean, yeah, it's unrealistic, but certainly not as much as the scenario you outlined.

[peacebird]

2. if Obama has the delegates and HRC gets the nom because of superdelegates then

the republicans win.

:grr:

the very thought is enraging!

[Dhalgren]

5. The Super Delegates equals 40% of the total needed to win.

All Clinton would need is to win 11% of the primary delegates and hold all of the Super Delegates and she wins. This is the way the Party has structured the Convention. It isn't underhanded, it isn't illegal, it is the way the rules are written. And it COULD happen. It may not, but it could...

[Occam Bandage]

6. SD

[peacebird]

7. as I said - if the nom gets tossed from who the voters picked to HRC because of SD

the repukes will win the white house

[tekisui]

8. She won't get all the Super del. over 112 have gone to Obama/Edwards/Righarson

I am trying to follow the superdelegates, I saw a list for today's date showing Clinton with 120. Earlier someone had posted that she had 160? Has She lost some?

Anyone have a reliable source of the Superdelegate count?

[Alexander]

10. Superdelegates will flee from Clinton if she continues to lose.

They blow like the wind. And she's losing momentum fast.

[bornskeptic]

15. No, that's not right.

The superdelegates are about 40% of the number needed to win, which is about 20% of the total number of delegates. In the unrealistic scenario of one candidate getting all of the superdelegates, he or she would still need at least 30% of the total from the 80% of delegates who are pledged, which is about 38% of those delegates.
Total Deleates: 4049
Superdelegates: 796
Pledged Delegates: 3253
Needed for nomination:2025
2025-796=1229
1229/3253=.378=37.8%

[Adelante]

4. I'll tell you

There's been a lot of anger at the party and that scenario could do real damage.

[Uncle Sinister]

9. Superdelegates would MUCH rather regain the oval office than repay Hil

They'll go with who can win, which right now "looks" like Barak, but it's EARLY

[SteppingRazor]

11. I agree, for what it's worth. And besides, it's not like Hillary will get ALL the superdelegates...

as long as Obama and Edwards pick up a few, I don't see the scenario in my OP happening. And given that the SDs tend to hop on the bandwagon, I imagine most will go Obama by the time the convention's over.

[RamboLiberal]

12. I don't think it will happen - wiser heads should prevail

I've been thinking about this a lot today since a local liberal Pittsburgh talk host's caller brought this up this morning. Then I heard Ed Schultz saying the Clintons are trying to keep their super delegates locked up till the convention.

IMHO if Obama won convincingly most of the primaries yet was denied the nomination because of super delegates to Clinton, then the Democrats would be throwing away a very big part of the African-American vote and the vote of many of the rest of us loyal Dems as well. I think wiser heads have to realize that and if the Obama wins continue I would expect there would be a number of super delegates switch to him.

At least I hope so.

I must admit I didn't even know about the super delegates till today and I hope the Dems drop this in the future. IMHO it should be the voters who pick the candidate.

[enough already]

13. If I'm not mistaken....

....most of the super-delegates are congresscritters and other elected officials? Would you want to be an elected official after telling the majority of your party that their vote didn't count and the nominee was picked in a smoke-filled room?

It's an interesting question you pose but I don't think it could happen given political reality.

[Joe the Revelator]

14. It would be the death of the party, good thing super delegates can switch their affiliation

They'll get behind the popular vote winner, like they always do.