when can the super delegates start trowing them in to help Joe go over the top

[demtenjeep]

I want to lock it in soon

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Only if he doesn't get enough delegates on the first ballot.

But he probably will.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

2. Second round of voting at convention

[Aquaria]

3. Yep

They don't come into play unless there's a second ballot.

[jxla]

4. Magic number is still 1991 (non-super) delegates

Joe has not yet racked up the necessary delegates to lock in the nomination.

Primaries are the only way to get there before the Convention.

[ucrdem]

6. that might change.

coronavirus.

[boston bean]

5. I don't think there is anything stopping them from pledging now.

[Celerity]

8. they already do this

they just cannot vote until a 2nd ballot, so their pledge is basically meaningless unless Biden fails to hit 1991 (which is not going to happen, he will end up with 2400 or more I think, on the first ballot)

here is a running SD count

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2020_Democratic_Party_automatic_delegates

[MineralMan]

7. As of now, they don't vote until the second ballot.

However, nothing is stopping any of them from declaring their support for a candidate and endorsing that candidate. There are 774/5 of the super delegates, and a vast majority of them would vote for Biden on the second ballot. In reality, Biden's magic number isn't 1991. it's lower than that, since the lack of a majority would send it to a second ballot, where Biden would be certain to win.

In addition, other candidates who have withdrawn can release their delegates and direct them to vote for Biden on the first ballot, since those candidates won't have enough delegates to be nominated at the convention.

The primary campaign has essentially ended, and Biden will be the Democratic nominee. 99.9% certainty of that.