Superdelegates

"Superdelegate" is an informal term for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the quadrennial convention of the United States Democratic Party.

Unlike most convention delegates, the superdelegates are not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state. Instead, the superdelegates are seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former elected officeholders and party officials. They are legally free to support any candidate for the nomination.

The Democratic Party rules do not use the term "superdelegate". The formal designation (in Rule 9.A) is "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates".[1] In addition to these unpledged "PLEO" delegates, the state parties choose other unpledged delegates (Rule 9.B) and pledged PLEO delegates (Rule 9.C).[1] This article discusses only the unpledged PLEO delegates.

The Republican Party also seats some party officials as delegates without regard to primary or caucus results, but the term "superdelegate" is most commonly applied only in the Democratic Party.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention the superdelegates will make up approximately one-fifth of the total number of delegates. The unforeseen and unprecedented closeness of the race between the leading contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama following Super Tuesday has focused attention on the potential role of the superdelegates in selecting the Democratic nominee, inasmuch as in the aggregate they could come to be kingmakers to a degree not seen in previous election cycles. [2] Such an outcome would result in the first brokered convention since 1952.
Superdelegate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I feel that this practice is just wrong. Primaries and Caucuses are suppose to be the deciding factor.....not insiders. Here's a list.....hey, let congress and senate pick your nominee:
Democractic Party Super Delegates -- 2008 (washingtonpost.com)

Have a good one!:s4:

That's exactly why I think that no matter what, Hillary will win even if she loses, then after she loses the popular vote and gets the nomination I am going to laugh my ass for about a year!:D At least that is what I hope happens, it would be perfect!

What a horrible system huh? I wish we could become a democracy so people would have a vote in the presidential elections. It just makes the whole system seem so superficial. You get to vote for other candidates and some issues but without being able to vote for the president it just feels like you're some docile little puppy being led down a path where you don't know what's at the end.

I don't think the superdelegates will decide the nomination any differently than the majority in the Primaries and Caucuses. There are a good number of Democrats who feel that the election was stolen in 2000 when Gore actually won the majority but lost the election, and there are even a few who think it was stolen in 2004. They think Republican stole it from Democrats. I think the party would disintegrate if it looked at all like the nomination had been stolen, Democrats stealling the nomination from other Democrats. I'm sure the Superdelegates will not change the outcome of the primary, no matter how they are currently pledged. Which calls into question the whole point of the superdelegates. If it would be unacceptable for them to change the outcome, then what is the point of even having them?

The original idea of the superdelegate was as a way to break a true deadlock. If you got to the convention and no one had prevailed, especially if it was a close three-way race, then you would need a way to break that deadlock. Also there was some theory that becasue most of the superdelegates are elected officials who have already won their own elections, they would have a good sense of the best candidaae to win, as opposed to the rank and file. I don't think I believe all that, but that is part of the reasoning. I think we would be better off without them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dragonrider

They think Republican stole it from Democrats. I think the party would disintegrate if it looked at all like the nomination had been stolen, Democrats stealling the nomination from other Democrats.

---

Remember, we're dealing with the Clintons here. Sure would be nice to have Bill, who is a major player, to be on the campaign trail for the next nominee.

Have a good one!:s4: