Clinton Still Has Confidence Of More Superdeligates Than Obama – Survey

[bigtree]

February 13th, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama has undoubtedly given crushing defeats to Sen. Hillary Clinton recently, but he still lacks confidence of superdelegates, who can play vital role in the absence of a clear-cut winner.

With Tuesday wins, Obama has won 23 of the 35 sanctioned Democratic primaries and caucuses so far, but he is far behind lady Clinton as far as the confidence of superdeligates in concerned; Clinton still has the support of more superdelegates than Obama.

According to a media survey, the strong possibility even after Obama's wins Tuesday is that neither Obama nor Clinton are going to emerge with a clear victory from the primary balloting, and the 796 Democratic Party insiders will play crutial role in break the tie between the two. Survey articulates that Hillary Rodham Clinton still has the support of the majority of superdelegates.

Mannie Rodriguez, a "super delegate" and one of the 796 Democratic Party insiders from Colorado, openly supported Clinton. He has the right to back Clinton, no matter that Colorado and a majority of other states have so far chosen Obama. Rodriguez said, "I do not go with the candidate who is always winning. I go with the candidate I believe in."

The chairman of the state party in Indiana and a super delegate, Dan Parker also feels just as strongly and same as Rodriguez. Parker said, "I have made my decision, and I am supporting Sen. Clinton, and that is not going to change."

Hence, besides preparing for Wisconsin and Hawaii vote next Tuesday, Clinton and Obama camps are devoting a huge amount of energy to gain the support of maximum number of the super delegates, most of whom are members of Congress or party officials.

According to unscientific media survey, Clinton has won pledges from just over 200 super delegates so far, and Obama from about 150. The super delegates can change their allegiance at any time.

According to the Survey, some super delegates think that the party insiders should be wary of overturning the collective decision of rank-and-file Democratic voters . . .


http://www.topnews.in/usa/clinton-still-has-confidence-more-superdeligates-obama-survey-250

[blm]

1. Not what I am hearing the last couple days.

I hear the insider confidence of Clinton has dropped considerably. The newsrooms are preparing that story but won't rush it out, as it still involves people close to changing their minds.

[bigtree]

3. I've provided a report here.

gossip is fine, but, it's still gossip

[blm]

5. Yeah, I know. But you also know that

my 'gossip' like this comes from newsroom 'gossip' amongst plain, old, unheralded political reporters.

[bigtree]

7. blm, these things shift with votes. We'll all see where these delegates line up.

I wish we could trash them. I think, in the end, it will be Hillary who needs them the most. I could see, though, a situation where many peel off, and many others don't, out of opposition to Obama or solid support for Clinton. Not all of them are accountable to some one to fear some reaction.

Yet, then again, Clinton won't do herself any good with Democratic voters if she's seen trying to go against the majority of votes actually cast, so I don't expect any outrageous moves at the end.

[blm]

10. Yep. The talk already is that her camp is THINKING about using delegates to wrest control

if the delegate count is against her, but the overall sentiment is that they will not go through with it because the backlash would be enormous.

My thing is - why would they even CONTEMPLATE such a drastic move?

I really believe they NEED the WH to protect their secrecy and privilege, too, as it is so intertwined with the Bushes' needs at this point.

[IndieLeft]

13. It's a freaking Hillary website! This isn't news! It's spin!

You got the side of her face on the top right of the website! Wow...

[KittyWampus]

2. MOST Of the SuperDelegates haven't chosen & will go w/pledged majority.

[bigtree]

4. sez, cryingshame

:shrug:

[KittyWampus]

6. in all likelihood, yes. The scenario that's being spun is not going to happen.

and the Mediawhores who've been reporting superdelegate counts have been highly irresponsible.

[bigtree]

8. I get ALL of MY political news from *cryingshame*

and ignore it like I do the rest of the talking heads.

[IndieLeft]

9. If you really knew the system, you would know that is how it works.

The super delegates are supposed to give the candidate with the majority of pledged delegates the overwhelming victory he/she needs to rally the country... and create a sense of party unity.

[bigtree]

12. they are allowed to vote the way they want

I expect, though, that the candidates won't ask them to supersede the votes cast.

[IndieLeft]

15. they are supposed to go with the vote of the people, and

your source for this... please. The side of hillary's head is on the top right of the site.

[BeyondGeography]

11. That's why they call them stupordelegates

They'll snap out of it soon enough.

[bigtree]

14. I think the candidates have to be held responsible too

No candidate should encourage any votes by them which supersede the votes cast.

[goodhue]

16. Over half of the superdelegates have yet to commit

Her advantage of 50 means little when 400 have yet to commit

[totodeinhere]

17. Obama might have enough pledged delegates to make it a moot point.

At the rate he's going right now, Obama may well have a big enough lead among the pledged delegates that he will be able to offset Clinton's lead among super delegates.

[quantass]

18. An Observer in another country Looking in and even i see it foolish of Supers not backing Voters

at the end of the day the superdelegates would be foolish to not back the candidate with the most delegates. It is sure to cause a divide and certainly a win for the Republicans...so i am sure the GOP insist the supers go for Hilary because not only will they be able to beat Hilary one-on-one but the democratic party will be divided and less likely to vote for her...very silly thinking by the supers so i doubt they will go that route.

And like the earlier replier said, there are some 400+ supers still undecided so its premature to assume they will stick to their original picks so adamently....a funny thing happens when time passes and state outcomes are revealed. Obama has nothing to worry about if he can keep his delegate lead.