A serious question

[dsc]

Full disclosure first, I support Hillary and this senario would likely happen with Hillary having more popular votes with Obama getting more delegates. So that said, here goes.

If one candidate wins the popular vote, while another candidate has more pledged delegates, which candidate should the super delegates support and why?

[sfam]

1. Can we stipulate that the popular vote totals from Michigan & Florida are not included?

I say this because if we remove those - as we should, considering the DNC says these contests didn't count - than Obama is up by a lot in the popular vote. Hillary of course includes them as part of her argument that she is up in the popular vote.

So that said, I think it would be a rare circumstance indeed that this happens. I would go as a super-delegate with the one who had a major lead in the category. So, say, if Hillary had a massive lead in the popular vote, but was just behind in the delegates, a case could be made to go with Hillary. Likewise, if Obama had a 100 delegate lead, but was losing the popular vote but a smidgen, I'd go with Obama.

I think it would be very rare for there to be virtually no difference either way. And really, I see this race starting to separate. But if it did happen, I would hope the candidates and superdelegates would come together for the good of the party and decide based on who they think has the best chance to win in November. The odd person out should have the option of accepting the VP if they so desire.

[dsc]

2. I would include Florida but exclude Michigan

but according to ABC, which excludes both, she was up in popular vote after Saturday's contests and by many more than voted in total in Maine. NBC, admittedly had the opposite numbers, so I don't know which one is right.

[sandnsea]

3. Whoever has the momentum at the end

They should consider the course of the campaign and what would have happened in the early states if the situation were the same as it ends up being in the late states. That actually is why they have 20% of the vote, to understand, for instance, how many CA votes were absentee or went to Edwards when they would have went to Obama.