Actually, most of the Super Delegates ARE elected: representatives, senators, governors, etc.
Then there are the party leaders, ex-presidents, etc.
Super Delegates. We don't vote them in. But they represent 40%
- Thread starter VegasGuy
- Start date
Then there are the party leaders, ex-presidents, etc.
Superdelegates put Obama within mathematical reach
Obama within reach of winning the Democratic presidential nomination by June 3rd
May 12, 11:43 PM (ET)
Associated Press
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama's wave of superdelegate endorsements puts him within reach of the Democratic presidential nomination by the end of the primary season on June 3 - even if he loses half of the remaining six contests.
The Illinois senator has picked up 26 superdelegates in the past week. At that pace, he will reach the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination - 2,025 - in the next three weeks, when delegates from the remaining primaries are included.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's best chance to slow Obama is to move the goal posts. She will get that chance May 31 when the Democratic National Committee's rules panel considers proposals to seat the delegates that had been stripped from Florida and Michigan. Those two states violated national party rules by holding their primaries in January and lost their delegates.
"Michigan and Florida are key to it," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said Monday.
Obama picked up four superdelegates Monday, including Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Rep. Tom Allen of Maine.
Allen, a six-term congressman who is running for the Senate, said the time has come for a "graceful end" to the nomination fight.
"I believe the process of reconciliation, the process of unifying this party, should begin sooner rather than later," Allen said. "It should begin in May and not in June."
Obama has 1,871.5 delegates, including endorsements from party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,697, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press. That leaves Obama just 153.5 delegates short of the number needed to win the nomination at the party's national convention this August in Denver.
There are 217 delegates at stake in the six remaining primaries, in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. Even if Clinton wins most of those delegates, Obama could reach the magic number by the time South Dakota and Montana vote on June 3.
Obama has been careful not to declare himself the nominee prematurely, even as his campaign focuses increasingly on Republican Sen. John McCain. Clinton's campaign, meanwhile, has outlined a strategy for winning the nomination that extends beyond the end of the primaries.
The battle might not last that long.
For Clinton to have a shot, she needs several things to fall her way, including the remaining superdelegates. Obama has claimed more than 80 percent of the superdelegates since Super Tuesday on Feb. 5. He now leads in states won, pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses and superdelegate endorsements.
He erased her longtime advantage in superdelegates this weekend and now leads 281-271.5. Some 200 undecided superdelegates remain, with an additional 42 still to be selected at state party conventions and meetings throughout the spring. Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention as delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.
Clinton desperately needs to have the delegates from Michigan and Florida seated in a way that greatly benefits her.
"It would be helpful," Wolfson acknowledged.
The Democratic National Committee's rules and bylaws committee voted to strip all the delegates from Florida and Michigan because they violated party rules by holding primaries before Feb. 5. The same panel will consider reinstating them.
Under the votes cast in January, Clinton would have won most of the delegates in both states. However, neither candidate campaigned in either state and Obama had his name removed from the ballot in Michigan.
Reinstating all the delegates and superdelegates would increase the number needed to claim the nomination to 2,209, perhaps extending the campaign. But even under the best scenario for Clinton, Obama would still be left with a lead of about 100 delegates, with fewer than 300 superdelegates left to be claimed.
"We need to do well everywhere," Wolfson said. "Our hope is that superdelegates will look at the results in some of these states and recognize that Senator Clinton would be the best nominee against John McCain."
---
Associated Press Writer Clarke Canfield in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080513/D90KGU400.html
Obama within reach of winning the Democratic presidential nomination by June 3rd
May 12, 11:43 PM (ET)
Associated Press
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama's wave of superdelegate endorsements puts him within reach of the Democratic presidential nomination by the end of the primary season on June 3 - even if he loses half of the remaining six contests.
The Illinois senator has picked up 26 superdelegates in the past week. At that pace, he will reach the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination - 2,025 - in the next three weeks, when delegates from the remaining primaries are included.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's best chance to slow Obama is to move the goal posts. She will get that chance May 31 when the Democratic National Committee's rules panel considers proposals to seat the delegates that had been stripped from Florida and Michigan. Those two states violated national party rules by holding their primaries in January and lost their delegates.
"Michigan and Florida are key to it," Howard Wolfson, Clinton's communications director, said Monday.
Obama picked up four superdelegates Monday, including Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Rep. Tom Allen of Maine.
Allen, a six-term congressman who is running for the Senate, said the time has come for a "graceful end" to the nomination fight.
"I believe the process of reconciliation, the process of unifying this party, should begin sooner rather than later," Allen said. "It should begin in May and not in June."
Obama has 1,871.5 delegates, including endorsements from party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,697, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press. That leaves Obama just 153.5 delegates short of the number needed to win the nomination at the party's national convention this August in Denver.
There are 217 delegates at stake in the six remaining primaries, in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. Even if Clinton wins most of those delegates, Obama could reach the magic number by the time South Dakota and Montana vote on June 3.
Obama has been careful not to declare himself the nominee prematurely, even as his campaign focuses increasingly on Republican Sen. John McCain. Clinton's campaign, meanwhile, has outlined a strategy for winning the nomination that extends beyond the end of the primaries.
The battle might not last that long.
For Clinton to have a shot, she needs several things to fall her way, including the remaining superdelegates. Obama has claimed more than 80 percent of the superdelegates since Super Tuesday on Feb. 5. He now leads in states won, pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses and superdelegate endorsements.
He erased her longtime advantage in superdelegates this weekend and now leads 281-271.5. Some 200 undecided superdelegates remain, with an additional 42 still to be selected at state party conventions and meetings throughout the spring. Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention as delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.
Clinton desperately needs to have the delegates from Michigan and Florida seated in a way that greatly benefits her.
"It would be helpful," Wolfson acknowledged.
The Democratic National Committee's rules and bylaws committee voted to strip all the delegates from Florida and Michigan because they violated party rules by holding primaries before Feb. 5. The same panel will consider reinstating them.
Under the votes cast in January, Clinton would have won most of the delegates in both states. However, neither candidate campaigned in either state and Obama had his name removed from the ballot in Michigan.
Reinstating all the delegates and superdelegates would increase the number needed to claim the nomination to 2,209, perhaps extending the campaign. But even under the best scenario for Clinton, Obama would still be left with a lead of about 100 delegates, with fewer than 300 superdelegates left to be claimed.
"We need to do well everywhere," Wolfson said. "Our hope is that superdelegates will look at the results in some of these states and recognize that Senator Clinton would be the best nominee against John McCain."
---
Associated Press Writer Clarke Canfield in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080513/D90KGU400.html
Another superdelegate for Obama
May 16, 2008 10:35 AM
The Obama campaign this morning announced that veteran California congressman Pete Stark of the East Bay near San Francisco, will endorse him. Stark is known as a liberal Democrat and a product of the peace movement. He was first elected in 1972. His district is in western Alameda county, which voted 52% to 44% for Obama.
In a statement released by the campaign, Rep. Stark said:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/usa/2008/05/another_superdelegate_for_obam_1.html
May 16, 2008 10:35 AM
The Obama campaign this morning announced that veteran California congressman Pete Stark of the East Bay near San Francisco, will endorse him. Stark is known as a liberal Democrat and a product of the peace movement. He was first elected in 1972. His district is in western Alameda county, which voted 52% to 44% for Obama.
In a statement released by the campaign, Rep. Stark said:
<font size="5">"</font size>Senator Barack Obama has captured the imagination of Americans in a way we've not seen for decades. He's inspired millions of young people to register to vote and join the ranks of our Democratic Party, he's consistently opposed the war, he advocates universal health care, and he delivers a message that transcends party politics at the same time. <font size="5">"</font size>
<font size="5">"</font size>I have the greatest respect for Senator Clinton and for her many years of service, but I believe the time has come to unify our party. The outcome we need in November is a Democratic President. To achieve that, we must turn our focus squarely on Senator McCain and his quest to continue another four years of the failed Bush agenda. <font size="5">"</font size>
Adding Stark's superdelegate vote to the most recent AP tally, Obama now has 1,899 delegates, compared to 1,718 for Clinton, with 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination.<font size="5">"</font size>I have the greatest respect for Senator Clinton and for her many years of service, but I believe the time has come to unify our party. The outcome we need in November is a Democratic President. To achieve that, we must turn our focus squarely on Senator McCain and his quest to continue another four years of the failed Bush agenda. <font size="5">"</font size>
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/usa/2008/05/another_superdelegate_for_obam_1.html
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Maryland Superdelegate Greg Pecoraro
Endorses Barack Obama
NewswireToday
Chicago, IL, United States
May 17, 2008
Maryland superdelegate Greg Pecoraro endorsed Senator Barack Obama today, pledging to support Obama at this summer's Democratic National Convention. Pecoraro's endorsement brings Obama's superdelegate total to 294.5.
Obama is now 120.5 total delegates from the nomination.
Pecoraro is a city councilmember in Westminster, Maryland, where he serves as chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Community Affairs, vice chair of the Finance Committee, and co-chair of the Special Committee on Growth and Annexation. He has also served as an assistant to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and Maryland State Treasurer Lucille Maurer.
Pecoraro released the following statement today: "Over the past five months, we have watched an extraordinary and historic race for the Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have given our party a difficult choice between two outstanding candidates. It has been especially exciting for me to watch as so many people have registered to vote so that they could participate in this selection, and have turned out to vote in record numbers in primary elections across the nation.
"Today, I am very excited to join the large majority of Maryland Democrats who expressed their enthusiasm for Senator Obama's candidacy in our state's presidential primary. Like them, I believe Barack Obama is the right leader for our time. With Barack Obama as our nominee and as our President, we have real hope that a new way of governing the nation is at hand. I strongly believe that Senator Obama offers us the best opportunity we have had for many years to turn away from the politics of division and despair, and look towards an America of opportunity and progress.
"As the primary season draws to a close, Democrats across the country will come together and unite behind Barack Obama. I know the leadership and members of Maryland's Democratic Party will join together over the next few months to deny the Bush-McCain Republicans a third term in the White House, and I look forward to working with them in that important effort."
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/34345/
Endorses Barack Obama
NewswireToday
Chicago, IL, United States
May 17, 2008
Maryland superdelegate Greg Pecoraro endorsed Senator Barack Obama today, pledging to support Obama at this summer's Democratic National Convention. Pecoraro's endorsement brings Obama's superdelegate total to 294.5.
Obama is now 120.5 total delegates from the nomination.
Pecoraro is a city councilmember in Westminster, Maryland, where he serves as chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Community Affairs, vice chair of the Finance Committee, and co-chair of the Special Committee on Growth and Annexation. He has also served as an assistant to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and Maryland State Treasurer Lucille Maurer.
Pecoraro released the following statement today: "Over the past five months, we have watched an extraordinary and historic race for the Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have given our party a difficult choice between two outstanding candidates. It has been especially exciting for me to watch as so many people have registered to vote so that they could participate in this selection, and have turned out to vote in record numbers in primary elections across the nation.
"Today, I am very excited to join the large majority of Maryland Democrats who expressed their enthusiasm for Senator Obama's candidacy in our state's presidential primary. Like them, I believe Barack Obama is the right leader for our time. With Barack Obama as our nominee and as our President, we have real hope that a new way of governing the nation is at hand. I strongly believe that Senator Obama offers us the best opportunity we have had for many years to turn away from the politics of division and despair, and look towards an America of opportunity and progress.
"As the primary season draws to a close, Democrats across the country will come together and unite behind Barack Obama. I know the leadership and members of Maryland's Democratic Party will join together over the next few months to deny the Bush-McCain Republicans a third term in the White House, and I look forward to working with them in that important effort."
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/34345/
<font size="5"><center>Jack Evans Switches to Obama,
Opens Own Campaign</font size></center>
Washington Post
May 17, 2008
Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) knows how to party every now and then---and to send a message or two.
He threw a big cookout today to kickoff his reelection bid and to give a shoutout to Sen. Barack Obama, who's been busy lately trying to lock up the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
Evans, who had been a supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, followed the march of superdelegates who have begun to close ranks around the junior senator from Illinois.
The council member took the stage with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray in the early afternoon to announce the endorsement.
Evans said he switched his support because Ward 2 overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the District primary in February. He said he is most concerned about having a Democratic White House.
"There is an enormous difference in having a Democrat in the White House and a Republican in the White House," Evans said to the cheers of about 300 people at on the basketball court of the Kennedy Recreation Center in the city's historic Shaw neighborhood.
The center, Evans said, is a symbol of the city's ups and downs. The center was dedicated in 1968 by Robert F. Kennedy on behalf of his brother, following the riots in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination. It was a boost for the area at that time, Evans said.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/05/superdelegate_jack_evans_switc.html?hpid=topnews
Opens Own Campaign</font size></center>
Washington Post
May 17, 2008
Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) knows how to party every now and then---and to send a message or two.
He threw a big cookout today to kickoff his reelection bid and to give a shoutout to Sen. Barack Obama, who's been busy lately trying to lock up the Democratic Party presidential nomination.
Evans, who had been a supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, followed the march of superdelegates who have begun to close ranks around the junior senator from Illinois.
The council member took the stage with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray in the early afternoon to announce the endorsement.
Evans said he switched his support because Ward 2 overwhelmingly voted for Obama in the District primary in February. He said he is most concerned about having a Democratic White House.
"There is an enormous difference in having a Democrat in the White House and a Republican in the White House," Evans said to the cheers of about 300 people at on the basketball court of the Kennedy Recreation Center in the city's historic Shaw neighborhood.
The center, Evans said, is a symbol of the city's ups and downs. The center was dedicated in 1968 by Robert F. Kennedy on behalf of his brother, following the riots in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination. It was a boost for the area at that time, Evans said.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/05/superdelegate_jack_evans_switc.html?hpid=topnews
Obama picks up 2 more Alaska superdelegates
Fort Mill Times
By ANNE SUTTON
(Published May 19, 2008)
JUNEAU, Alaska — Presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up two more superdelegates from Alaska Democrats.
Alaska National Committeewoman Cindy Spanyers of Juneau and state Democratic Party Vice Chairman Blake Johnson of Kenai announced their support for Obama on Monday.
Spanyers and Johnson join National Committeeman John Davies of Fairbanks in supporting the Illinois senator.
Alaska's fourth superdelegate, Democratic Party Chair Patti Higgins of Anchorage, previously announced her support for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
Obama won wide support from Alaska Democrats in the Feb. 5 caucuses receiving 75 percent to Clinton's 25 percent of the vote.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/168870.html
Fort Mill Times
By ANNE SUTTON
(Published May 19, 2008)
JUNEAU, Alaska — Presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up two more superdelegates from Alaska Democrats.
Alaska National Committeewoman Cindy Spanyers of Juneau and state Democratic Party Vice Chairman Blake Johnson of Kenai announced their support for Obama on Monday.
Spanyers and Johnson join National Committeeman John Davies of Fairbanks in supporting the Illinois senator.
Alaska's fourth superdelegate, Democratic Party Chair Patti Higgins of Anchorage, previously announced her support for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
Obama won wide support from Alaska Democrats in the Feb. 5 caucuses receiving 75 percent to Clinton's 25 percent of the vote.
http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/168870.html
Obama wins backing of Senate dean Robert Byrd
From the KKK to Endorsement of a Black Man for President
Longtime US senator from West
Virginia and former member of
the Ku Klux Klan endorses Obama
May 19, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democrat Barack Obama's White House bid Monday won support from the Senate's oldest and longest-serving member, Robert Byrd, who acclaimed his freshman colleague as a "shining young statesman."
Byrd, 90, was one of five Democratic "superdelegates" to endorse the Illinois senator Monday and add new momentum to his drive to capture the party's presidential nomination from Hillary Clinton.
The distinguished dean of the Senate went public with his endorsement despite his state of West Virginia voting overwhelmingly for the former first lady last week.
Both Clinton and Obama were "extraordinary individuals," Byrd said in a statement.
But he stressed: "I believe that Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history.
"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," said Byrd, who has served in the Senate since 1959 and has long since renounced his youthful dalliance with the Ku Klux Klan, the secret, white supremacist group -- known for their distinctive white robes and pointy hats -- which has terrorized blacks and other minority groups since immediately after the US Civil War.
The African-American Obama, 46, is homing in on the Democratic nomination with just five contests left including Kentucky and Oregon on Tuesday.
But New York Senator Clinton, 60, is vowing to stay in the race despite a steady drift of superdelegates -- Democratic leaders who are free to vote for either candidate -- to her rival's camp.
Obama Monday also secured endorsements from two superdelegates in Alaska and one each from Kansas and Washington state.
Obama's campaign said he was now 109 delegates away from the total of 2,025 needed to secure the Democratic nomination and run against presumed Republican nominee John McCain.
A tally by the independent website RealClearPolitics had Obama 115 delegates short, with a total of 1,910 against Clinton's 1,720.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iM3hds9RKrkUOHmZhvTg-TTie31Q
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Superdelegates predict quick primary end
Not Enough Pledged Delegates Left BUT Superdelegates
Predicted to Push Obama Over The Top Tonight
Politico.com
By AMIE PARNES & CHARLES MAHTESIAN
June 3, 2008
As the Democratic nomination marathon neared a potential finish line, key senators said the results of Tuesday’s South Dakota and Montana primaries will have a domino effect on uncommitted superdelegates – quite possibly clinching the nomination for Barack Obama.
“We want this locked up sooner rather than later,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who has remained undeclared. “Let’s have the nominee and let’s move on. That’s the common thread among the uncommitted superdelegates. … I will be ready after tomorrow night.”
With only 31 total pledged delegates at stake in the two states, Obama cannot win enough in the final two primaries to reach the 2,118 necessary to clinch the nomination. But Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of Obama’s strongest Senate supporters, said that she had spoken to enough uncommitted superdelegates around the country Monday to determine that he will reach the threshold necessary to claim the Democratic nomination by the end of Tuesday evening.
“I think tomorrow will be a very big day. I’ve spoken to 10 uncommitteds, and they’ve said yes, they’ll be committing [to Obama], and they’ll be committing sometime tomorrow. “
The magic number has “been shrinking so quickly,” McCaskill said.
Eight superdelegates announced their choices Monday— six for Obama and two for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). In addition, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) confirmed that he will endorse Obama on Tuesday.
A group of 15 uncommitted Senate superdelegates met on Capitol Hill Monday to discuss how to proceed on making their endorsements.
“It was a dialogue about how people are feeling,” said Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), who noted that no decisions were made at the meeting Monday. “For me, it’s who I think can win this thing in November.”
When asked who that was, he said: “I could make the argument for either one of them.”
Salazar said there will be another meeting of uncommitted superdelegates Wednesday.
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), agreed that superdelegates must make their decisions this week, but he said it’s not up to superdelegates to come out with a unified decision. Rather, Obama and Clinton will have to mend the fences and move the party ahead, Cardin said.
“I’m going to pick the person who has the most support and has the best chance of winning,” Cardin said.
At Monday’s meeting, Cardin said there was no lobbying on behalf of Obama or Clinton, and there was no push for a unified statement among the remaining superdelegates. But Cardin said he emerged from that meeting believing the superdelegates would rapidly begin making their decisions public in order to close out the nominating process.
Sherrod Brown, also uncommitted, said, “I told both Barack and Hillary that I’d make a decision by the end of the week.”
At least one Senate superdelegate, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), said he’s not committing because he wants to get his delegation seated with full votes. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee agreed Saturday to seat Michigan’s full delegation, but each delegate — including superdelegates — will only receive a half vote.
“I’m sticking to it,” he said.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a Clinton superdelegate, said Monday that her colleagues should remain patient for now.
“I think if they decided to do anything today, it would be precipitous,” she said. “They should do it when the process of electing delegates is over.”
As to Clinton superdelegates like herself: “We are unwavering. We will go through tomorrow night and we’ll see where Sen. Clinton is.”
Martin Kady II and Daniel W. Reilly contributed to this report.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10779.html
Not Enough Pledged Delegates Left BUT Superdelegates
Predicted to Push Obama Over The Top Tonight
Politico.com
By AMIE PARNES & CHARLES MAHTESIAN
June 3, 2008
As the Democratic nomination marathon neared a potential finish line, key senators said the results of Tuesday’s South Dakota and Montana primaries will have a domino effect on uncommitted superdelegates – quite possibly clinching the nomination for Barack Obama.
“We want this locked up sooner rather than later,” said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who has remained undeclared. “Let’s have the nominee and let’s move on. That’s the common thread among the uncommitted superdelegates. … I will be ready after tomorrow night.”
With only 31 total pledged delegates at stake in the two states, Obama cannot win enough in the final two primaries to reach the 2,118 necessary to clinch the nomination. But Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of Obama’s strongest Senate supporters, said that she had spoken to enough uncommitted superdelegates around the country Monday to determine that he will reach the threshold necessary to claim the Democratic nomination by the end of Tuesday evening.
“I think tomorrow will be a very big day. I’ve spoken to 10 uncommitteds, and they’ve said yes, they’ll be committing [to Obama], and they’ll be committing sometime tomorrow. “
The magic number has “been shrinking so quickly,” McCaskill said.
Eight superdelegates announced their choices Monday— six for Obama and two for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). In addition, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) confirmed that he will endorse Obama on Tuesday.
A group of 15 uncommitted Senate superdelegates met on Capitol Hill Monday to discuss how to proceed on making their endorsements.
“It was a dialogue about how people are feeling,” said Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), who noted that no decisions were made at the meeting Monday. “For me, it’s who I think can win this thing in November.”
When asked who that was, he said: “I could make the argument for either one of them.”
Salazar said there will be another meeting of uncommitted superdelegates Wednesday.
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), agreed that superdelegates must make their decisions this week, but he said it’s not up to superdelegates to come out with a unified decision. Rather, Obama and Clinton will have to mend the fences and move the party ahead, Cardin said.
“I’m going to pick the person who has the most support and has the best chance of winning,” Cardin said.
At Monday’s meeting, Cardin said there was no lobbying on behalf of Obama or Clinton, and there was no push for a unified statement among the remaining superdelegates. But Cardin said he emerged from that meeting believing the superdelegates would rapidly begin making their decisions public in order to close out the nominating process.
Sherrod Brown, also uncommitted, said, “I told both Barack and Hillary that I’d make a decision by the end of the week.”
At least one Senate superdelegate, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), said he’s not committing because he wants to get his delegation seated with full votes. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee agreed Saturday to seat Michigan’s full delegation, but each delegate — including superdelegates — will only receive a half vote.
“I’m sticking to it,” he said.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a Clinton superdelegate, said Monday that her colleagues should remain patient for now.
“I think if they decided to do anything today, it would be precipitous,” she said. “They should do it when the process of electing delegates is over.”
As to Clinton superdelegates like herself: “We are unwavering. We will go through tomorrow night and we’ll see where Sen. Clinton is.”
Martin Kady II and Daniel W. Reilly contributed to this report.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10779.html
Compromise reached on future of superdelegates
Sanders, Clinton forces agree on commission to study future nominating process
Commission will be named by Sanders, Clinton, DNC
PHILADELPHIA -- Superdelegates’ clout could be significantly diluted in future presidential elections, thanks to a deal Saturday night between backers of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.
Sanders, Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, had long sought to cut the number of superdelegates, or party insiders unbound to vote as their constituents did.
Earlier Saturday, the convention rules committee rejected a plan by liberal groups, most sympathetic to the Vermont senator, to cut the number in th future. But they had enough strength to go to the convention floor Monday, a move the Clinton forces wanted to avoid.
The Saturday evening deal will create a new commission to study the nominating system. It will have 21 members and look into a variety of issues. Membes of Congress, governors and party leaders are likely to remain superdelegates, but that could be about it.
The members will be chosen by Sanders, Clinton and the Democratic National Committee. Chairing will be Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, co-founder of Precision Strategies and deputy campaign manager of President Obama's re-election campaign.
The Sanders-named vice chairman will be Larry Cohen, former president of the Communication Workers of America Larry Cohen..
Clinton has 602 superdelegates to Sanders’ 48. Without them, she would fall short of the 2,343 needed to nominate, though she would still have far more delegates than Sanders. The final tally, including superdelegates, was Clinton, 2,807, Sanders, 1,894.
The superdelegate system was created in the early 1980s as a way to give the party insiders more say about the nominee. There were fears among more centrist Democrats that the party’s nominating process was too tilted towards liberals who can’t get elected.
The bid to overhaul the system has strong support from liberal groups still lukewarm about Clinton.
"The super delegate system undermines the promise of one person one vote that is bedrock of democracy,” maintained Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United and a Rules Committee member. The committee will discuss the subject later Saturday.
To Burger and others, curbing the influence of superdelegates would send a powerful signal. Superdelegates, she said, were “created to block the nomination of candidates who would challenge a political system that has for far too long been dominated by corporate interests and a wealthy elite.”
Sanders’ campaign, though, was pleased Saturday night. "This is a tremendous victory for Sen. Sanders' fight to democratize the Democratic Party and reform the Democratic nominating process," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager.
David Lightman: 202-383-6101, @lightmandavid
SOURCE: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article91467312.html#storylink=cpy
.
Sanders, Clinton forces agree on commission to study future nominating process
Commission will be named by Sanders, Clinton, DNC
PHILADELPHIA -- Superdelegates’ clout could be significantly diluted in future presidential elections, thanks to a deal Saturday night between backers of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.
Sanders, Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, had long sought to cut the number of superdelegates, or party insiders unbound to vote as their constituents did.
Earlier Saturday, the convention rules committee rejected a plan by liberal groups, most sympathetic to the Vermont senator, to cut the number in th future. But they had enough strength to go to the convention floor Monday, a move the Clinton forces wanted to avoid.
The Saturday evening deal will create a new commission to study the nominating system. It will have 21 members and look into a variety of issues. Membes of Congress, governors and party leaders are likely to remain superdelegates, but that could be about it.
The members will be chosen by Sanders, Clinton and the Democratic National Committee. Chairing will be Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, co-founder of Precision Strategies and deputy campaign manager of President Obama's re-election campaign.
The Sanders-named vice chairman will be Larry Cohen, former president of the Communication Workers of America Larry Cohen..
Clinton has 602 superdelegates to Sanders’ 48. Without them, she would fall short of the 2,343 needed to nominate, though she would still have far more delegates than Sanders. The final tally, including superdelegates, was Clinton, 2,807, Sanders, 1,894.
The superdelegate system was created in the early 1980s as a way to give the party insiders more say about the nominee. There were fears among more centrist Democrats that the party’s nominating process was too tilted towards liberals who can’t get elected.
The bid to overhaul the system has strong support from liberal groups still lukewarm about Clinton.
"The super delegate system undermines the promise of one person one vote that is bedrock of democracy,” maintained Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United and a Rules Committee member. The committee will discuss the subject later Saturday.
To Burger and others, curbing the influence of superdelegates would send a powerful signal. Superdelegates, she said, were “created to block the nomination of candidates who would challenge a political system that has for far too long been dominated by corporate interests and a wealthy elite.”
Sanders’ campaign, though, was pleased Saturday night. "This is a tremendous victory for Sen. Sanders' fight to democratize the Democratic Party and reform the Democratic nominating process," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager.
David Lightman: 202-383-6101, @lightmandavid
SOURCE: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article91467312.html#storylink=cpy
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