Superdelegates Give Clinton An Early Edge
CBS News Survey Of Party Leaders Shows They're Behind Party's Front-Runner -- For Now, At Least
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Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham savors a cup of hot tea, while speaking at a town hall meeting in Peterborough, N.H. Wednesday Nov. 7, 2007. (AP)
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Created by the Democratic Party in 1984, superdelegates include members of Congress, governors, former presidents, Democratic National Committee members and other party leaders. There are 850 of them, which comprises nearly one-fifth of the overall delegate count. They can back any candidate they want and change their mind as often as they want. But right now, among those that are supporting or leaning toward one candidate, they are largely siding with Clinton.
A CBS News survey of Democratic superdelegates revealed that 184 of them are supporting or leaning toward the New York senator and former first lady. By a more than two-to-one margin, she tops Barack Obama, who is supported by 71.5 superdelegates. John Edwards is in third, with the support of 40 superdelegates. Trailing them are Bill Richardson at 27.5, Chris Dodd at 12, Joe Biden at 10.5 and Dennis Kucinich at 2. Superdelegates representing Democrats Abroad only get one-half vote each, accounting for the fractional support received by some candidates. Among those who responded to the CBS News survey, 236.5 were still undecided.
Female superdelegates were especially likely to support Clinton - 87 were supporting her, compared to 18 for Obama. Her advantage over Obama among men is smaller: 97 superdelegates to Obama's 53.5. African-American superdelegates also narrowly favor her over Obama.
While this support is important in securing the nomination - Clinton's confirmed backing gives her 8.3 percent of the 2,209 delegates needed to win - there are several caveats. Most important is that superdelegates tend to be more of a reflection of national polls than of who will actually win the nomination. They usually back the front-runner or the establishment candidate - this year, Clinton is both. But in 2004, Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt led John Kerry in the superdelegate count, only to see Kerry wrap up the nomination relatively quickly after his come-from-behind win in the Iowa caucuses. The superdelegates, focused on displaying party unity, rallied around their nominee.
The field of superdelegates itself is still very much in flux. Of the 850 superdelegates, 81 are "unpledged add-ons" yet to be named. And 7 of the named spots are vacant. Other states, like Florida and Michigan, have risked losing all their delegates, including superdelegates, by scheduling their primaries earlier than DNC rules allow.
But it is very easy to determine who some superdelegates are supporting, namely because Clinton, Obama, Dodd, Biden, Kucinich and Richardson, by virtue of their offices, are superdelegates themselves, and presumably backing their own candidacies.
CBS News and The New York Times contacted 619 unpledged delegates; 143 superdelegates have not been reached. Of the 619 reached, 31 delegates refused to complete the survey, yielding 588 completed surveys representing 585 delegate votes. The endorsements of another eight superdelegates were confirmed by other methods.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.




wrote a book about overthrowing american democracy.
That''s our HITLERY.... That is what she wrote her
thesis about and what she dosen''t want you to know.
I will tell you why. Every single one of the politicians and extremely rich powerful Elite that run tour government and media from behind the scenes is AFRAID of RON PAUL!! They fear him so much that they have no choice but, to censor his coverage and limit your exposure to him. They are so afraid that you might wake up and realize you are being lied to every day. Everytime you turn on the news owned by Rupert or Turner or Disney you are being misled!
Do yourself a favor and choose a candidate based on his merits and morals and achievements not those of on gender, age or race.
Frankly. Hillary makes me sick, and I''ll quit the Marines before I''ll serve under her.
VOTE RON PAUL! SEMPER FI!
Ezra Mondova -- U.S. Marine
At least the commies are straight forward and don''t mouth off *** that makes you think they''re other than what they are.
I think people block Ron Paul''s supporters because they''re the most obnoxious. Having a large internet and youth-based center of power, his supporters generally are the loud, intrusive, and outspoken type. For example- my campus (Cal) is currently coated in Ron Paul graffiti, which is annoying, intrusive, and attention grabbing.
I for one choose to listen to policy choices, platform, and political history rather than over-filtered bias-ridden media coverage we have. I also think that if everyone sought out the information, rather than being spoon-fed it, there would be less vitriol about.
I think that choosing a candidate based on their behavior outside of the legal/governmental system is ludicrous, You don''t hire a plumber because he''s got a great relationship with his family, or doesn''t eat at Macdonald''s, all things exterior to the business sought is irrelevant. You hire the plumber because he''s reliable, or cost-effective, or skillful.
You don''t choose a leader for the nation based on stupid ***. Look up policy history. Look up independent and partisan reviews of platform. But most of all DO NOT RELY JUST ON WHAT YOU ARE TOLD.
I think people block Ron Paul''s supporters because they''re the most obnoxious. Having a large internet and youth-based center of power, his supporters generally are the loud, intrusive, and outspoken type. For example- my campus (Cal) is currently coated in Ron Paul graffiti, which is annoying, intrusive, and attention grabbing.
I for one choose to listen to policy choices, platform, and political history rather than over-filtered bias-ridden media coverage we have. I also think that if everyone sought out the information, rather than being spoon-fed it, there would be less vitriol about.
I think that choosing a candidate based on their behavior outside of the legal/governmental system is ludicrous, You don''t hire a plumber because he''s got a great relationship with his family, or doesn''t eat at Macdonald''s, all things exterior to the business sought is irrelevant. You hire the plumber because he''s reliable, or cost-effective, or skillful.
You don''t choose a leader for the nation based on stupid stuff. Look up policy history. Look up independent and partisan reviews of platform. But most of all DO NOT RELY JUST ON WHAT YOU ARE TOLD.
With Ron Paul supporters showing up at Clinton''s rallies, supporting a candidate she''s not even in competition with, it is logical that the distractions would be quashed.
Ron Paul lacks legitimacy, while policy-wise he could be right on, or far-off, it won''t matter because nobody really respects him that much. He needs a more serious, concerted, and focused campaign.
With Ron Paul supporters showing up at Clinton''s rallies, supporting a candidate she''s not even in competition with, it is logical that the distractions would be quashed.
Ron Paul lacks legitimacy, while policy-wise he could be right on, or far-off, it won''t matter because nobody really respects him that much. He needs a more serious, concerted, and focused campaign.
Freedom is apparently popular, folks. I''m glad it is. In just 24 hours (on Nov 5, 2007), he raised over $4,200,000 in grass roots donations from his supporters nationwide, beating Mitt Romney''s previous one-day (Republican) record of 3.1 million Dollars. Do the math, folks. Ron Paul certainly isn''t getting any money from the bankers or the military industrial complex like all the sold-out NWO candidates both on the left and the right who pretend to be his equal. He''s getting support from millions of REAL people who share in his Hope For America:
-- No more meddling in other country''s political affairs
-- No more aggressive military actions overseas
-- No more pseudo-wars like the "War on Drugs"
-- No more IRS and unconstitutional income taxes
-- No more Federal Reserve (the group of private banks which owns our government)
-- No more U.N. participation
-- No more NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO or GATT
-- No more North American Union
-- No more federal gun control laws
-- No more illegal aliens pouring-in over our country''s borders
-- No more illegal aliens allowed to roam freely in our streets
-- No more federal Laws which are not authorized by The Constitution
-- No more federal erosion of State sovereignty
-- No more all-powerful federal government
They don''t call him "Dr. No" for no reason. The Doctor is in! Join us in this 21st Century political revolution at ronpaul2008.com
Remember, folks. Freedom isn''t free.
Frankly. Hillary makes me sick, and I''''ll quit the Marines before I''''ll serve under her.
VOTE RON PAUL! SEMPER FI!
Ezra Mondova -- U.S. Marine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by NYCMarine at 10:14 PM : Nov 07, 2007
+ report abuse
You are either a fake OR aren''t much of a Marine! Marines do NOT join or serve for any leader but for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. The JOB of a Marine is to protect the RIGHTS of the PEOPLE. If the PEOPLE pick Ms. Clinton, which it''s obvious they are going to, then a proper Marine honors and respects THEIR rights to do so. To even IMPLY that you as a Marine have the right to resign for no other reason than the people exercised their rights under the Constitution insults the THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of great Marines who have died to PROTECT that right. YOU do not deserve the right to wear the uniform. Sieg Heil Bush!!!
SO GO AHEAD AMERICANS BE WEAK, THIS IS COMMING....IT IS TIME FOR A REVOLUTION,TIME TO STOP BUSH/CHENEY
The violence broke out after an estimated 80,000 ant-iBUSH demonstrators - led by university students - marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that would greatly expand BUSH/CHENEY power if voters agree to the changes in December. Unrest, if it continues, could mar a Dec. 2 referendum on the controversial reforms
The amendments being protested would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.
The protesters demand the referendum be suspended, saying the amendments would weaken civil liberties and give BUSH AND CHENEY unprecedented power to declare states of emergency.
``Don''t allow AMERICA to go down a path that nobody wants to cross , during the march to the Supreme Court.
BUSH, who was first elected in2000, denies the reforms threaten freedom. He says they would instead move AMERICA toward what he calls ``21st century socialism.''''
In televised comments prior to the unrest, BUSH urged ALL AMERICANS to turn out en masse to vote for the reforms. In reference to the opposition, he said: ``Don''t go crazy.''''
Frankly. Hillary makes me sick, and I''''''''ll quit the Marines before I''''''''ll serve under her.
VOTE RON PAUL! SEMPER FI!
Ezra Mondova -- U.S. Marine
Quit because as MeVet said you are not much a Marine in fact you are probably a fake. The armed forces pledges not to defend a President but the country and you sir are not a true American.
So go down to you C.O. and say that you need to be relieved of duty and discharged because you will not defend The United States of America.
Jerk.
Posted by drinuk at 04:27 AM : Nov 08, 2007
it amounts to Bullying typical Republican of today that is why Ron Paul will never win. Just like all the Republican swift boaters just push but we will not give in this time. You Republicans have pissed us off.
This kind of smoke-filled room politics was supposed to have been reformed out of business at the 1972 Convention but the Clinton clan have brought it back from the dead.
The first order of business at the Convention in Denver should be to reform this process and eliminate Super delegates.
The violence broke out after an estimated 80,000 ant-iBUSH demonstrators - led by university students - marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that would greatly expand BUSH/CHENEY power if voters agree to the changes in December. Unrest, if it continues, could mar a Dec. 2 referendum on the controversial reforms
The amendments being protested would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.
The protesters demand the referendum be suspended, saying the amendments would weaken civil liberties and give BUSH AND CHENEY unprecedented power to declare states of emergency.
``Don''''''''t allow AMERICA to go down a path that nobody wants to cross , during the march to the Supreme Court.
BUSH, who was first elected in2000, denies the reforms threaten freedom. He says they would instead move AMERICA toward what he calls ``21st century socialism.''''''''''''''''
In televised comments prior to the unrest, BUSH urged ALL AMERICANS to turn out en masse to vote for the reforms. In reference to the opposition, he said: ``Don''''''''t go crazy.''''''''''''''''
SO GO AHEAD AND VOTE HER IN AMERICA, AND SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT...
WITH 250 MILLION AMERICANS THEY CANT KILL US ALL..TIME FOR A REVOLUTION.
www.ronpaul2008.com
On Sept. 20, CBS News (quietly) reported that Hillary Clinton''s campaign fundraiser Norman Hsu was being charged in New York with running a ponzi scheme that also involves illegal campaign contributions to her presidential campaign. He was a leading money bundler for Clinton, and had actually earned the nickname, "HillRaiser" from Hillary for his efforts at collecting donations for her. Ultimately, her campaign was forced to return ($850,000) in donations that were linked to Hsu. Afterwards, Clinton promised, "stricter scrutiny of donors." Hsu was actually a wanted fugitive, with an outstanding Felony Warrant, the entire time he worked for Clinton. Hsu''s ponzi scheme involved getting people to invest in what appeared to be a lucrative financial investment while at the same time getting those individuals to donate money to Hillary Clinton''s presidential campaign. Hsu was wanted in California on charges stemming from a 15-year-old Felony Theft conviction. Shouldn''t we demonize Hillary, like CBS is (clearly) attempting to demonize Ron Paul? I''m suprised CBS doesn''t Photoshop some devil horns on top of his head in that worst possible photograph they always use of him. The fact is, folks, no candidate can control who does, and who doesn''t donate money to their campaign. Candidates can only return money when they discover that it has been somehow donated illegaly. At least Paul doesn''t staff his campaign with CRIMINALS LIKE HILLARY does.
On Sept. 20, CBS News (quietly) reported that Hillary Clinton''s campaign fundraiser Norman Hsu was being charged in New York with running a ponzi scheme that also involves illegal campaign contributions to her presidential campaign. He was a leading money bundler for Clinton, and had actually earned the nickname, "HillRaiser" from Hillary for his efforts at collecting donations for her. Ultimately, her campaign was forced to return ($850,000) in donations that were linked to Hsu. Afterwards, Clinton promised, "stricter scrutiny of donors." Hsu was actually a wanted fugitive, with an outstanding Felony Warrant, the entire time he worked for Clinton. Hsu''s ponzi scheme involved getting people to invest in what appeared to be a lucrative financial investment while at the same time getting those individuals to donate money to Hillary Clinton''s presidential campaign. Hsu was wanted in California on charges stemming from a 15-year-old Felony Theft conviction. Shouldn''t we demonize Hillary, like CBS is (clearly) attempting to demonize Ron Paul? I''m suprised CBS doesn''t Photoshop some devil horns on top of his head in that worst possible photograph they always use of him. The fact is, folks, no candidate can control who does, and who doesn''t donate money to their campaign. Candidates can only return money when they discover that it has been donated illegally. However, Ron Paul doesn''t staff his campaign with CRIMINALS LIKE HILLARY does.
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by gunownerdan
November 9, 2007 7:47 AM PST
- All men are created equal, but the politicians, superdelegates, and the rich are more equal than others.
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