Will the Super Delegates override the will of the people

[rateyes]

in Denver, and give the nomination to a candidate who won't win the majority of the delegates in the primaries/caucuses?

[Patsy Stone]

1. I hope not.

But I have no idea.

[cali]

2. probably. I've said all along that Clinton will win because

of institutional advantages. It's not for sure that Obama will win the most pledged delegates. But even if he does, she'll get it.

[rateyes]

9. And, that will be bad for the party. Clinton will lose a lot of votes

if that happens. I hate to say it, but we better get used to the idea of very possibly having to talk of President McCain.

[cali]

12. I agree with you

if that's how she "wins", it puts a serious crimp in her campaign in the general.

Ack. I just agreed with you.

[rateyes]

18. Will wonders never cease?

:hi:

[leftynyc]

37. So the rules only matter when

it comes to seating delegates in FL and MI. Then the rules are sacred.

But the superdelegates (which are also part of the rules) - that's going to destroy democracy.

[JVS]

3. If the people split evenly, then they cannot be said to have a will

or at least not a well defined will.

[AGirl]

4. will the people in Florida and Michigian count?

[rateyes]

6. There are consequences to breaking the rules...

FL and MI disenfranchised their own voters. They voted for the rules, and they intentionally broke the rules thinking that they would not be subject to the rules. They were wrong.

[Windy]

11. Exactly.. in MI it was Debbie Dingel and Jennifer Granholm who pushed this issue

both are clinton supporters.

[Windy]

10. the other candidates did not campaign in MI and Florida. Obama excels when he campaigns

as evidenced by the returns. Hillary won florida on name recognition and early voting. Had Obama campaigned there, he may not have one but Hillary would not have gotten the lion share of the delegates.

In Michigan, he could have potentially won it if he had campaigned there.

The delegates can't be seated until a nominee is chosen, so sorry to dissapoint Agirl, but it doesn't really matter with regard to picking the eventual nominee. She/He has to win overall to be able to seat them.

[AGirl]

13. Nice to know that you think people in Florida are unable to judge the candidates on the issues

I guess they have no access to newspaper, internet or anything else to learn about the position of the candidates.

[Windy]

16. Its an election. Its a contest. You have to compete for votes.

People can read the issues, but they need to see the entire package. No one outside of Illnois really knew obama until this election got rolling. Everyone already knew Hillary.
When they see and get to know obama, the equation changes. The evidence of that fact is overwhelming after last night.

[AGirl]

24. I have never met Obama, and I can *see* the entire package.

I don't need to shake his hands or listen to one of his LIVE speeches.

[alarimer]

5. If they do, they will lose my vote altogether

Because what is the point of having primaries?

I think I can hold my nose and vote for either one but NOT if the candidate is someone other than the winner of the primaries. Unless it's Al Gore.

[rateyes]

22. I'm right there with you. nt

[rpannier]

7. Hard to say

If there's winner by Denver then basically what the people have said is,
"We can't decide."

The super delegates need to be done away with.
It should be based on the voting of the members of the party: 1 person 1 vote kind of thing.

That being said:
If the situation comes down to no definite nominee and the super delegates choose Obama, will his supporters be as upset as they are now about the prospects or will they just chuckle and say, "Those are the rules."

Let's hope it doesn't come down to the super delegates.

It may also comedown to the few delegates that Edwards has tipping the scales.

[joshcryer]

8. At this point it's probable they'll have a say. Looks like the MSM created horse race is here.

It's going to be an interesting convention no doubt. Either candidate needs a good 200+ point lead over the other to be able to keep the superdelegates from changing their minds.

[Windy]

15. MSM created? The people spoke! I am proud of my country this morning!!

We have a woman and an african american who brought people in masses never before recorded out to the polls. We had cross over of repubs and independents and white men voting overwhelmingly for an african american in the heartland.

This nation has evolved. It is so encouraging!

[WolverineDG]

28. MSM created? Think not

They were predicting it would be all over for both parties by New Hampshire. You could tell they were stunned by the results in both Iowa & NH & still haven't quite figured out that people are voting for the one they think is best, not the ones the media told them to vote for.

dg

[joshcryer]

30. Almost every state Hillary has won she was considered losing.

The MSM has created a horse race between Hillary and Obama because it means more profit in the long run.

[WolverineDG]

32. Sorry but I recall just a few months ago

the media was having orgasms over a Clinton-Guiliani race.

dg

[onenote]

35. Huh?

[TexasObserver]

14. Superdelegates who want to cash in will likely go for Hillary

She's much more likely to make the kind of deals that promise positions to super delegates looking for a cushy post election job in the new administration. I can't see Obama being that smarmy, so he's unlikely to get the superdelegates who are looking to be bought.

Super delegates who must run for reelection will likely support the candidate who will most help them in their state. That will favor Obama.

Overall, I think the party loyalists will prevail over the hacks who are looking for their next job.

[ShortnFiery]

17. They better not. If The Clintonian DLC selects ANOTHER candidate (they have since 1992), the Party

will splinter in many directions. HRC may be the democratic nominee, but ALL AMERICANS will be saying "President McCain" come January of 2009. :grr:

[rateyes]

20. That's what I'm thinking. We Democrats have a habit of

snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. If we had voted for the person with the most experience and the best prepared to lead the country right now--Obama, Clinton, & Edwards would not have been the first-tier candidates.

Biden, Dodd, Richardson would ALL clean McCain's clock in the GE. I'm afraid we're getting ready to blow it, again.

[frogcycle]

19. if no candidate wins a majority

then they HAVE to "give it to one who did not win a majority"

if your plaint is that it might be other than the leader (a plurality), well, that IS why there ARE Super Delegates.

[rateyes]

23. I'd be interested to see who is winning the popular vote nationwide

right now. And, I wasn't talking about a majority of all the delegates. I'm was talking about a majority of just those delegates who are selected by the primaries/caucuses. It's very possible a candidate could have a majority of those votes and still not have a majority of the total.

I want to know that the superdelegates are listening to the people.

[frogcycle]

33. if they DO listen to the people

then they are irrelevant

not saying they should not be, but it is kinda weird to demand that they follow the popular vote when they were created for the express purpose of providing a means not to do that

[Tarc]

21. This Superdelegate slagging is childish and pointless

Why are Superdelegates so vilified? You all knew how the process works before getting into the race, so it does little good to bitch and bellyache when a part of the process doesn't go the way you want it to go.

[BenDavid]

25. this will be a mute point as hrc will have the most delegates

irregardless of super delegates....I think you obama folks need to go take some prozac and chill for the rest of the day. No one is going to steal your delegates...so chill..kick back, relax, your guy had a good night but hrc had a better one.....but then again we hrc supporters did not come in here for almost 2 weeks telling us how great the kerry endorsement was and then how greater the kennedy endorsement was and then telling us how great the zogby poll was in california showing obama way ahead and how great it was that oprah came back out for a rally and maria shriver was going to put obama over the top.....this is why you all need to chill....

[rateyes]

26. I voted for Edwards.

I'm not in the "Obama folk" crowd. And, BTW, nice spin. Looks like Obama won more delegates (and, positively more states) than Clinton did last night. And, the word is "regardless" not "irregardless." Perhaps you meant "irrespective."

[frogcycle]

34. you forget to call him out for "mute point"

:rofl:

[Vinca]

27. If they do, there will be 2 fewer Democrats in New Hampshire. nt

[rateyes]

29. I'll bet more than 2. nt

[Dr.Phool]

31. There's already 2 fewer in Florida.

[Tom Rinaldo]

36. Do a little adding and you will discover that Hillary Clinton

...has won substantially more actual individual votes so far this primary season than has Barack Obama. Does that count for anything in your concern over the will of the people? Clinton has also done better than Obama in secret ballot primary contests where a large percentage of actual voters show up, as compared to "wheel and deal", "bend and twist" caucuses where smaller numbers participate.

And the vast majority of Super Delegates are Democrats who Democratic voters elected.