Why won't the superdelegates just end it?

[Maven]

I'll tell you why.

Because there is still a huge number of Democrats who support Hillary Clinton.

Lemme repeat that for those of you who think GD:P is a representative picture of the party.

There is still a huge number of Democrats in the country who support Hillary Clinton.

They have supported her, they have donated to her, they have made calls for her and they have voted for her. And when they perceived that she was being slighted or pushed out, they have rallied for her. They, like Obama's supporters, have a very personal investment in their candidate.

What does this have to do with superdelegates? Superdelegates, like most of us, and probably like Hillary Clinton herself, know this race is essentially over. But superdelegates and the party leadership at large are concerned with one thing: winning in November. And in order to do that, they will need to avoid alienating the large number of Democratic voters who have remained loyal to Clinton. And the fastest way to alienate those voters is to cut Clinton off at the knees by coming out en masse for Obama to formally clinch the nomination for him before everyone has voted.

Ya know how Obama supporters kept saying that if the supers gave Clinton the nomination the party would alienate young voters and AAs? Same concept applies to Clinton's base of supporters.

Those of us who were paying attention today to the interviews given by various superdelegates recognized a coordinated message: unified party after June 6th. Translation: let everybody vote, and then formally conclude the race. Let voters feel like both candidates have gotten the full benefit of the process and that neither candidate (specifically, Clinton) has been "pushed out" by the party.

And in the meantime, Obama can still campaign for the general. I doubt you'll see Clinton on the offensive against Obama beyond making her own case for the candidacy. She's smart, she's a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, and she's not going to jeopardize her own political legacy or the election in November just to be spiteful.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. So Are The Declared Superdelegates Doing The Wrong Thing? [nt]

[Maven]

2. No, I think the trickle of supers to Obama will continue.

And Clinton may pick up a few as well.

But many have asked why the undeclared superdelegates don't see the writing on the wall and knock her out of the race as a group.

[ShortnFiery]

10. YES, the superdelegates don't realize just how FUCKING TIRED we are off all of this bickering!?!

Why must we give "a Clinton" umpteen chances even when THE MATH is not there?!?

ANYONE other than the vicious "take no prisoners" Clintons would have had their campaigns SHUT DOWN by now.

I'm taking notes - if those GUTLESS superdelegates allow HRC to TRASH Obama and "the down ticket" ... WE ALL LOSE, but I'm going to make sure, they LOSE MORE by not getting re-elected. :grr:

[ORDem]

3. Nope, that's not why. They are simply waiting until Obama has the

pledged delegate MAJORITY, at which point they can start coming over to him without the appearance of exercising their power over that of the voters. May 20th is the day when Obama accomplishes that. Thirteen days from now.

[Beregond2]

4. That isn't the point.

The point is, she lost a long time ago, and her continuing this farce serves no good purpose.

[Maven]

9. If you're talking about post-Super Tuesday, I disagree.

Nonetheless, for her to quit now (when the media is writing her political obituary) doesn't help in the general for the same reasons, I believe. Many who still support her will interpret her quitting as a sign she was pushed out, and they will be turned off. Better to let everyone vote and then conclude the race. 3 weeks is not that long to wait.

[jillan]

5. Excellent post! Even Pelosi came out today and said to let the rest of the states vote.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Pelosi is OUT OF TOUCH. Damn if this trashes our party, I hope she goes down FIRST! eom

[cottonseed]

6. Great post.

I see it happening this way as well. We've only got about a month left. I think if both sides can keep away from attacking the person and stick with the issues, then we can continue to have a spirited debate. I'd also like to see us be able to get these last few states the chance to vote and then we can go from there.

[kid a]

7. I agree; however, if Clinton begins to go ballistic on Obama and his patriotism, character, etc

Then it is time to step up the pressure. Because, then she is not working as a Democratic and destroying a very strong GE candidate.

[ShortnFiery]

14. With HRC it's not a matter of "if" but "when"

:grr:

[NJSecularist]

8. More Democrats have voted for Hillary than Obama.

Hillary has won around 400,000 more Democratic votes than Obama.

[Gore1FL]

12. REally? Whay didn;t they vote then?

[ShortnFiery]

13. Yeah, what's that DELEGATE COUNT again?

:eyes:

[Gore1FL]

17. Even countin MI (where he has nne) and FL he leads in pop vote

and that vote relies on the caucus canard.

Even the bullshit doesn't add up anymore for her.

[NJSecularist]

15. Because Obama was put over the top by the Republican vote in the primaries. n/t

[wileedog]

18. He has dominated the delegate, caucus and popular vote because of Republicans?

Link?

[Gore1FL]

19. I see.

i suppose you have a link that compares his margin of GOP voters (who voted because they thought he was a weaer candidate) to the Rush Limbaugh crossovers?

I look forward to you posting this credible piece of evidence.

[Colobo]

22. You sound bitter, NJ.

[nomorewhopper]

16. there can be only one. clinton supporters HAVE to accept an obama nomination

this race WILL have to be decided by superdelegates (unless clinton drops out first) since neither candidate has enough delegates to get to the magic number on their own

obama WILL be the nominee

if i had it my way, i think that we should sacrifice clinton to the altar of john mccain and have the supers destroy her dreams this very minute. the superdelegates, however, are indeed looking for a tactful way to allow clinton to save face and leave the race in a manner that allows her supporters to hold their heads high. i personally think that clinton does not deserve this treatment, especially when time is running out and she continues to try to destroy obama. but she will be granted this treatment, for a period of time.

at some point the grim reaper is going to show up at her door. she would be wise to drop out before that, and endorse obama, or she risks looking like a fool and splitting the party as you suggest in your op.

[Maven]

20. "sacrifice Clinton to the altar"

"destroy her dreams"

"grim reaper at her door"

It seems that you, like many, are more interested in personally and politically destroying Hillary Clinton than winning in November. Luckily, the superdelegates are not so short-sighted, as I've explained.

"this race WILL have to be decided by superdelegates"

Yes. The question is not if, but when. That was the point of my OP.

[nomorewhopper]

24. When is now. Why wait and delay the inevitable if she is just using her time to destroy Obama?

just doesn't make sense to me.

i certainly have an incredible disdain for Hillary, and I believe that if she was forced out two months ago by the Supers this situation would not be nearly as complicated/incendiary as it is today. Time is only hardening our divisions. She has shown, as we have heard "great testicular fortitude", so anyways let her take her destruction like a man. Suck it up. Quit now. Stop crying about it. And. Move. On.

[Colobo]

21. It's over. We all know it.

[Maven]

23. As I acknowledged, above.