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The popular voting is to assign delegates to each candidate. Those delegates are supposed to represent their candidate at the political party’s nominating convention.
Therefore, the candidate with the most delegates will win the party’s nomination, right? Well, not necessarily, because super delegates are not bound by the popular vote.
Unless Bernie Sanders wins the popular vote by a very wide margin in the Democratic Party primary, Hillary Clinton could actually walk away with the party’s nomination, due to the power of super delegates which make sure that all us dumb voters are never in control.
DNC chair Wasserman-Shultz admitted as much:
“Unpledged delegates exist really to make sure that party leaders and elected officials don’t have to be in a position where they are running against grassroots activists."
Then tell us all... One tie in Iowa and one huge loss in New Hampshire, yet you hold double the delegates as the guy that just beat you?
Yeah, that's what the post you quoted was all about, the fact that Clinton DOESN'T "hold" all these delegates. I'll try to explain it again.
After two events, Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders has 36 pledged delegates, Clinton has 32. The rational observer will determine that Sanders currently has the lead.
Back in November, when Clinton held a commanding lead in the polls and nobody thought Sanders had a chance, the Associated Press conducted a poll of superdelegates to see whom they thought they would support. The results were of that poll were Clinton 359, Sanders 8, O'Malley 2, Uncommitted 210, and No Response 133. If you add the results to the pledged total you have a tally of Clinton 391, Sanders 44.
But a rational observer wouldn't look at it that way because the results of the superdelegate poll don't carry any weight whatsoever. Superdelegate votes aren't cast until the National Convention, and when they are cast they will likely reflect the will of the constituents.
As time goes on additional surveys will be taken and we should see the results differing from the November poll, assuming Sanders continues to do well at the primaries and caucuses. In 2007 Clinton Led Obama bay a margin of almost three to one in the December AP superdelegate poll, but by the time she dropped out Superdelegate support had shifted to Obama by more than two to one.
Bottom line, it's too early to get all worked up about this. Let the damn thing play out.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WaldoKitty
Because unless you know the nitty gritty, to the average voter it looks like Bernie is losing, and people don't like to vote for candidates that are losing.
It's a huge handicap against Bernie, and one that he should not have to deal with.
I honestly dont think the average voter looks at superdelegates, or delegate counts in general. And I dont think any voter who looks at the delegate count is going to think he is losing based on superdelegates because they would likely understand how the primary as a whole works.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by biscuitmom
Superdelegates were never a factor in 2008 and there wouldn't have been a 2nd ballot.
Clinton suspended her campaign and fully endorsed Obama2 months before the convention, in a stirring speech.
The only reason some delegate votes were cast for her at the convention was because her supporters requested that they have the chance to nominate and cast some votes for her. She and Obama agreed to that symbolic gesture.
Then as the 1st ballot was underway and sufficient votes for her had been cast to satisfy her supporters, Clinton interrupted the vote and moved that Obama be nominated by acclimation:
Later Bill Clinton addressed the convention:
As others have already pointed out, you were wrong.
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(set 28 days ago)
Location: Pine Grove,AL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WaldoKitty
Topic isn't about Obama
When was Bernie a Super Delegate?
I have no idea what Bernie might have been aware of. But it's clear his supporters are revolting against this highly unfair system now.
All elected Federal officials who caucus with the Democratic Party are superdelegates, that means Bernie has been one ever since he won his first federal election.
In short, Bernie knew the system long before he choose to run for President within the party.
I have to admit even I am shocked at how "in your face" the liberal elites are being in this election. No doubt, the GOP is not fond of Trump but at least they are still back room dealing to get rid of him and not openly throwing the will of the voters away as the liberals are.
Super delegates are not tied to states.
Bernie Sanders has won One primary out of 54 contest(U.S. territories that hold a primary) And he also is not the Party front runner, meaning he does not , at least at this point hold the "will" of the people in his grasp.
That is still Hillary.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crossfire600
Liberals deserve what they have right now. Your response is a perfect example of that but let's work through this together. Answer these questions
a) what is a super delegate?
a superdelegate is a member of the Democratic party who holds a leadership role or is federally elected.
All 50 State chairs, All members of congress. Current/Former Presidents, elected party leadership. All together there is something like 714 members.
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b) when and why did the Democratic Party put them in play?
Some time in the early 1970's
And because the people who work with you know you best. Its simply party eldership.
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c) how many are there and what percentage do they represent of all delegates?
714(i think) and 14%
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d) what determines how they cast their vote?
their own conscience
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e) who won New Hampshires popular vote?
Bernie Sanders, but again, the super delegates are not tied to a state. You keep saying they are, but that doesnt make it any more or less untrue.
they arent awarded, they simply pick the candidate they like.
At the end of all this, Hillary might win the popular vote and Bernie might win the super delegate count.
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f) how many delegates did each candidate get based in that percentage?
15-9 in favor of Bernie if I remember correctly.
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g) was the will of the voters represented accurately in this caucus?
yes.
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Now, if you answer these Ill be happy to carry on our conversation.
What specifically in my post are you claiming to be wrong?
The sequence of events, the dates, and the delegate vote count for the 2008 Democratic primary race are all thoroughly documented.
All elected Federal officials who caucus with the Democratic Party are superdelegates, that means Bernie has been one ever since he won his first federal election.
In short, Bernie knew the system long before he choose to run for President within the party.
I am simply amazed at the thought that Bernie could possibly be surprised at how things shake out. IF it's so bad - there was nothing stopping him from running as an Independent.
a superdelegate is a member of the Democratic party who holds a leadership role or is federally elected.
All 50 State chairs, All members of congress. Current/Former Presidents, elected party leadership. All together there is something like 714 members.
714(i think) and 14%
There are 716 superdelegates accounting for 712 delegate votes. The 8 DNC member delegates who are members of Democrats Abroad each get a half vote.
Quote:
Some time in the early 1970's
The Superdelegate rule was adopted in 1982 and first came into play during the 1984 election cycle.
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