2008 Woodie Awards
Superdelegates must use their powers for good
DI Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Opinions
Jason Rae isn't terribly different from your average Daily Iowan reader. He's from a small town in Wisconsin called Rice Lake. He's a 21-year-old student at Marquette University who often rides his bike to class. He has never voted in a presidential election, but he will most certainly have his voice heard this year. He will vote in Wisconsin's primary on Tuesday, but the candidate he throws his weight behind will get the boost of much more than a single vote. Rae is more than one voter - as a member of the Democratic National Committee, he's one of 796 Democratic superdelegates.
When a normal citizen votes, her or his ballot is counted as one voice. When Jason makes his choice, it's much more than one vote. Dan Abrams of MSNBC estimates Rae's support as a superdelegate is worth almost 10,000 votes. He isn't what the Democratic Party calls a "pledged delegate," because his vote isn't reflective of the popular vote in his state. Party officials label Jason and others similar to him "unpledged delegates," because they are just that: Unpledged delegates can change their minds on whom they support at any time, and their support isn't dictated by vote proportions. Superdelegates decide whom they support on their own, for their own reasons. They can go with the popular vote, or they can decide, by their own terms, who would best represent the party or who would be most electable. They have absolutely no obligation to anyone but themselves; they answer to no one but themselves.
Rae has taken calls from Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Chelsea Clinton, and several others, all attempting to woo him into supporting a particular candidate. Once Rae has decided on a favorite, he will likely still receive phone calls and offers to meet over dinner because he is unpledged and can change his mind. Superdelegates can wait for the best offer, so pander away, candidates. Because the Democratic race is so tight this year, it just might come down to the superdelegate vote and which candidate has the best cheese tray at the convention or which campaign offers the best gift basket.
When a normal citizen votes, her or his ballot is counted as one voice. When Jason makes his choice, it's much more than one vote. Dan Abrams of MSNBC estimates Rae's support as a superdelegate is worth almost 10,000 votes. He isn't what the Democratic Party calls a "pledged delegate," because his vote isn't reflective of the popular vote in his state. Party officials label Jason and others similar to him "unpledged delegates," because they are just that: Unpledged delegates can change their minds on whom they support at any time, and their support isn't dictated by vote proportions. Superdelegates decide whom they support on their own, for their own reasons. They can go with the popular vote, or they can decide, by their own terms, who would best represent the party or who would be most electable. They have absolutely no obligation to anyone but themselves; they answer to no one but themselves.
Rae has taken calls from Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Chelsea Clinton, and several others, all attempting to woo him into supporting a particular candidate. Once Rae has decided on a favorite, he will likely still receive phone calls and offers to meet over dinner because he is unpledged and can change his mind. Superdelegates can wait for the best offer, so pander away, candidates. Because the Democratic race is so tight this year, it just might come down to the superdelegate vote and which candidate has the best cheese tray at the convention or which campaign offers the best gift basket.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
wardwelch
Ward
posted 2/14/08 @ 4:45 AM CST
I believe if the democrats use the super delegate process to circumvent the popular/majority will of the people they will blow whatever chance they have now and in the future for winning the Whitehouse. (Continued…)
sean
posted 2/14/08 @ 8:55 AM CST
I seem to remember the Dems' uproar in 2000 over the Electoral College and the Supreme Court overriding the will of the people. Wouldn't it be interesting if their internal policies mimicked this supposed affront to democracy?
Signed, an independent-minded cynic. (Continued…)
JW Haga
posted 2/14/08 @ 10:34 AM CST
The Super Delegate process is just another example of Dems finding ways of snatching defeat from the jaws of Victory.
If say Hillary were to snatch the nomination from an Obama candidacy that had more regular voter selected delegates it would be the last time in 35 years of being a Democrat that I would work or vote for a Democratic Party sponsored official at any level. (Continued…)
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