Hillary's superdelegates are worthless unless she wins a majority of the pledged delegates

[Karmadillo]

Bernie has a pretty tough row to hoe to get to a majority of pledged delegates through primaries and caucuses, but let's imagine he ends up winning more of them than Clinton. Would his supporters then acquiesce to losing the nomination won at the polls to the backroom machinations of unelected delegates? It's highly unlikely and a nomination so stolen would almost certainly guarantee a Republican victory in the general election. So, as much as CNN and others like to prematurely add in superdelegates to Clinton's totals, those delegates really only count if she actually wins a majority of pledged delegates at the polls. Government of the oligarchs, by the oligarchs, for the oligarchs won't cut it this election season.

[Stuckinthebush]

1. Yes they really do

No reason for any super to switch to the other side. It's rare that happens to the extent Bernie needs. They should be in the various candidates columns.

[obamanut2012]

2. Yes, they do, which is how Obama won the nom in 2008

Hillary had more votes than he did, but he played the SG angle better. It is very unusual for them to flip after they state who they back. So yes, the total is legit and matters a lot.

[Karmadillo]

5. Actually, Obama had more pledged delegates than Clinton.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_delegate_count.html

Obama had 1766.5 and Clinton had 1639.5. Had the numbers been reversed, I imagine Clinton would have been making the argument I'm making. Without a majority of the pledged delegates, reliance on superdelegates is a form of theft.

[Gwhittey]

3. They count and they are 10000 time

more important than you and me. It is made up of the much more important memeber of DNC than you and I. Many of them are Lobbyist appointed by our masters at the DNC to make sure we the people don't get wild idea that we actually matter and vote for grass roots candidate like Sanders.

Check out https://theintercept.com/2016/02/17/voters-be-damned/ for a example of the people that are 10000x more important than you.

[Gothmog]

4. Their votes count without regard to any majority vote at polls

These super delegates will be voting in any event and they are not bound by or necessary care about the vote in the primary process. I am amused by the concept that their preferences should be ignored because that belief ignores who these super delegates are and what they really care about. Many of the super delegates are elected officials who are concerned about being re-elected. If they believe that Sanders would hurt them in their races, they will vote their own self interest. Clinton is raising money for the Democratic Party and Sanders is not. I work with three of the members of the Houston delegation on voting issues and they are not going to support Sanders.

The rest of these delegates are long time part operatives who have worked decades in the party. These people are concerned about the long term prospects of the party. Again, Sanders will have a very difficult time convincing these super delegates to vote against what they believe to be in the best interests in the party. I know four or five members of the DNC who are super delegates and these people are people who will not do anything that they believe is not in the best long term interest of the party.

Sanders needs to show that he cares about down ballot races and helping the party if he wants to win the support of these delegates. I am comfortable with counting these votes now. Ignoring the votes of these delegates will not affect how they are going to vote.

[Agschmid]

6. Which she currently has...

Let the primary continue.