Serious Question: Are caucus delegates required to vote for

[Skwmom]

the person they were chosen to represent? For example, let's say Obama wins 5 delegates in a precinct. Then the people in the precinct who voted for Obama vote/nominate the actual delegates to attend the convention. Does the nominated delegates have to vote for Obama at the convention (or can they vote for Clinton)?

For example, if the Clinton campaign knew Obama was going to win a caucus, could they get their supporter(s) to attend a caucus as an "Obama" supporter or an uncommitted who switches to Obama, get them nominated as an Obama delegate, and then have that delegate vote for Clinton at the convention? I remember how NV said something about their delegates not being committed (or something along those lines). I'm asking this b/c of a caucus blog I read which really made me question how committed that Obama delegate actually was (and because of the anything to win mentality I've seen displayed by the Clinton camp).

[DCDemo]

1. Nope

At least not here in Colorado, but I think it's actually true nationally vis-a-vis the Democratic Party rules.

We are free to vote for anyone we want!

[joshcryer]

3. Delegates are chosen to "represent the nominee that brought them there."

So while they might be able to vote it's unlikely they'd change their mind.

[Skwmom]

4. You say nope but then say you are free to vote for anyone you want.

Is the answer intended to be misleading?

[joshcryer]

2. Pledged delegates do unless the convention becomes brokered, in which case they're released...

...from their obligation and all delegates become "uncommitted."

Superdelegates can vote for whomever they chose, but they generally stick to the canidate they went into the convention supporting.

[Skwmom]

5. Oh, so if it's a brokered convention, having your own supporters

nominated to represent your opponent would be a "good" strategy?

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. I think it depends on state rules

Most states, if not all, require that primary/caucus delegates to National vote according to their mandate on the first ballot. Usually, that first ballot gives one candidate enough votes to secure the nomination; if not, the horse-trading begins: delegates form caucuses and powerblocks which trade votes in favor of items in the national platform.

Keep in mind that in many states, the state convention can change the delegate allocation, either by a few delegates here or there, or by using a "winner-takes-all" approach that names a single winner who gets all of the state's delegates.