Democrats Spotlight The Superdelegates

A Select Group Of Democratic Party Insiders Is Being Ardently Wooed For Their Votes

(CBS)  From CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor and producer Phil Hirschkorn.

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Despite all the primaries and caucuses and millions of people voting, it is growing increasingly possible that neither Barack Obama nor Hillary Clinton will secure a majority of delegates needed to win the Democratic Party's presidential nomination when the contests are over in June.

"Neither will have enough," Clinton campaign adviser Harold Ickes told reporters in a conference call Saturday.

If his forecast is correct, that means a group of 796 so-called "superdelegates," or one out of every five of the 4,049 delegates going to the national convention in Denver this August, may hold the power to pick the party's nominee.

"Both of the candidates are going to need them to nail down the nomination," said Ickes.

The current delegate count, according to CBS News, allocates 1,284 to Obama, including 1,124 elected and 160 superdelegates. Clinton has 224 superdelegates and 984 elected ones for a total of 1,208.

About half of the superdelegates hold elective office, like U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

"It would not be good for the Democratic Party if this went to the convention, because I think we need to unify a lot sooner than that," Casey tells CBS News.

At least through his state's primary in late April, Casey plans to remain uncommitted, despite pleas by the Obama and Clinton campaigns for him to make a choice.

"We've had contact with both sides asking for help and sometimes advice," Casey says. He considers candidates electable in November, but prefers for the primaries to play out and possibly tip the nomination contest one candidate's way.

"I think there will be a convergence, or a confluence really, of momentum and consensus," the senator says.

Casey and dozens of superdelegates who hold office have received more than $904,000 in campaign contributions over the last three years - $698,000 from Obama's political action committee and $206,000 from Clinton's, according to the Center For Responsive Politics. The center reported this week that 43 percent of Obama's pledged superdelegates and 12 pecent of Clinton's were recipients.

The other half of the superdelegates are Democratic National Committee officials like Ralph Dawson, a New York lawyer appointed by party chairman Howard Dean, a college friend. Because Dawson is still uncommitted, he gets phone calls and emails all the time.

"From DNC members supporting one or another candidate. Within my family, differences of opinion," Dawson tells CBS News.

Support Hillary, some tell him, "She would be the first woman candidate. Are you sexist?" they ask.

Support Obama, press others, "This might be the only time that an African-American is in this position for the next 30 years. What are you gonna do?"

Dawson takes it all in stride. "I don't feel pressured because people are calling me. I think you always want to do what's right for the country and the party," he says.

The Democrats created superdelegates after the 1980 campaign to help ensure their nominee was mainstream and electable. South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn, the number three Democrat in the House of Representatives leadership, describes the group as a "safety valve" in case the frontrunner falters.

"They have never before provided the sole margin of victory in a nominating process; this time they will," says Democratic strategist Tad Devine, who tracked superdelegates for winning nominees Jimmy Carter in 1980, Walter Mondale in 1984 and Michael Dukakis in 1988. Devine is cautioning superdelegates to be patient.

"I think the risk of superdelegates moving now is that there will be a perception amongst the voting public that this process has been decided in back rooms and not in voting booths," he says.

Still, the trickle of superdelegates announcing their prefererence continues. On Thursday, Wisconsin superdelegate Stan Gruszynski, who spent ten years in the state legislature, came out for Obama. "I don't really see any reason why I should sit back and be silent, when my vocalizing my judgment can make a difference," Gruszynski tells CBS News. "It may help people who know me to decide."

Currently behind in delegates won in voting booths, Clinton is counting on her current edge with superdelegates like Texas Democratic party activist David Holmes, to overcome Obama's overall lead.

"I really feel Hillary Clinton has the experience and the determination to move our country forward and repair our reputation in the world," Holmes tells CBS News. "I am gonna stick by my commitment. It would have be something quite significant to change my mind."

Since her campaign believes neither Senator will win enough elected delegates in the primaries and caucuses to secure the nomination - the magic number of 2,025 - a superdelegate like New Jersey school secretary Roz Samuels is perhaps Clinton's worst nightmare. Samuels tells CBS News she had wanted to see a woman in the White House but switched her allegiance this week to Obama.

"I like his energy. I like the way he has brought the young people into the forefront. And I like his views on Iraq," Samuels says. "No one pressured me."

Longtime Georgia Congressman John Lewis - a civil rights movement leader who backed Clinton - is one of the first superdelegates in office to reveal he may switch to Obama too, if it's left up to the superdelegates at the convention.

Ultimately, Obama's campaign may have an ally in California Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who says her party will be in trouble if the superdelegates, in the end, do not reflect the will of the voters. Clinton's campaign, not surprisingly, says superdelegates should be able to vote independently for whoever they want.

[billybub6]

1. lETS SEE HILLARYS FINANCES!

2. LET THE VOTES STAND FROM THE PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICIANS!

I hope that these so-called superdelegates will honor the will of the people. If they do not, I will feel disenfranchised. In Washington State, one superdelegate equals approximately 2500 individual democratic votes. Together, they are equivalent to the electoral power of several large states. Why should individuals with their own interest at heart be able to trump the will of the voters?

I hope that these so-called superdelegates will honor the will of the people. If they do not, I will feel disenfranchised. In Washington State, one superdelegate equals approximately 2500 individual democratic votes. Together, they are equivalent to the electoral power of several large states. Why should individuals with their own interest at heart be able to trump the will of the voters?

[kensingsd]

When it was Hillary who needed the super del then it was wrong to count on them. Then why did the Obama campaign send out an email blast yesterday emphatically encouraging all his supporters to start pressuring and calling the super delgates. Hillary will do it right and turn our economy around.

[bogdog30]

Hanoi (jane the elder) still explaining the monologues to john john says say ''purty putty'' baby ...

Kombat Kerry looking on watches Ears (Lawnjockey) carefully at the time.

[dejiolaiya]

The Clintons wants to take the Democratic party down with them. Hillary has lost, that''s for sure, loosing eight straight contests in a row is not my idea of an electable candidate. Hillary and Bill game plan now is to cause strife within the party, going forward to the election in fall. They are going down, they want to take the party down with them, what a shame!

[libra127]

After watching Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama give speeches just now in Wisconsin, I am once again impressed with what a strong, capable candidate for President Hillary is. Obama seemed to be more like a preacher, mostly shouting to arouse the crowd. It''''s not that I don''''t like him or respect him, but I''''m not so impressed by his style. Hillary just seems to have much more substance, intellect, and committment to solving the problems of our country. I hope she wins the primary in Wisconsin, and those to follow, because she will make a truly great President.

[jack3213]

The Clintons had their chance, both did nothing to add value to the country. Looking back and wishing for things to be what they were pre-9-11 is fool-hardy. They had 8 years to offer Health Insurance. She has cried twice. They are both childish and immature and certainly not worthy. Only the poor don''t get it, understandable. Women are finally waking up. Democrats are useless, really--look at Congress.

[user168-2009]

HOW CAN WE LET OUR CHILDREN FOLLOW THOSE CALCULATING, NARCISSISTIC, AND SELF-SEEKING CLINTONS, I AM ASKING ALL OF YOU - PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS?

DO WE NOT LOVE OUR CHILDREN?

DO WE NOT SEEK BETTER ROLE MODELS FOR THEM?

DO WE NOT THINK THEY WORTH ANY LONG-TERM COMMON GOOD?

[user168-2009]

"Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics."

"There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands."

SOLET IT BE THAT OUR YOUTH SEES HOPE AND UNIVERSAL TRUTH IN OBAMA:

"Hold faithfulness and sincerity your first principles."

"Love each other or perish."

"From caring comes courage."

"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

GO! OBAMA!

[libra127]

We''re not electing Preacher of the U.S. but President of the U.S. Inspiration and vision are not enough to solve the nation''s problems. Hillary is the best candidate to lead our nation out of the mess the Bush administration has created. Vote for Hillary for President!

[user168-2009]

libra127,


"Those that understand, teach."

"A leader is like a light held high that brightens the way for others."

"Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means."

"He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it."

"Without truth I know not how man can live."

[drbob10001]

Democrats Beware! The Clinton''s are plotting to steal the nomination!

[user168-2009]

Democrats Beware! The Clinton''s are plotting to steal the nomination!

Posted by drbob10001


Yes, we must always watch these two birds of a feather liars and cheaters!

"He who steals a little steals with the same wish as he who steals much, but with less power."

Once a cheater always a cheater!

[jedi08]

Don''t count out the Billary. That Witch isn''t dead until we see her legs from under the house

[andersenme]

Why is Hillary in full retreat?

Well, there are too many questions about why she won''t release her taxes until after she becomes the Democratic nominee--if that happens.

(Doesn''t Hillary trust Democratic voters to make informed decisions?)

A lot of anxiety out there, too, about her plan to garnish workers'' wages as part of her mandatory medical insurance plan.

(Real Democrats don''t use confiscatory language when talking about workers'' salaries.)

And parents, in particular, are less interested in whether it takes a village to raise decent children than they are in knowing what in the world Bill and Hillary have to offer young people in terms of being examples of honesty and integrity--given all the scandals surrounding the former First Family.

And of course there is still a lot of anger out there how the Clintons engaged in racial coding on the eve of the celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Then there is the question--"Where''s William?"

Bill Clinton oscillates between being underwraps and carefully tethered, lest he alienate even more Democratic voters.

But what would happen if Hillary is actually elected?

Let''s not take a bridge back to the 20th century.

Martin Edwin "Mick" Andersen

Churchton, Maryland

[torch1000us1]

Funny when Hillary was ahead we never heard her say she wanted Flordia voters heard. Now she is behind and WOW lets count Flordia. She cannot be trusted this and her tax returns prove it. I for one will vote for a Republican if she is what we have to vote for.

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!

[vet_sk]

Times have changed in the DNC. There is no way they would get away with giving the nomination away to anyone but the winner of the delegates.

Obama will win the pledged delegates and the super''s will pile on. If they don''t they''ll have political hell to pay from their constituents.

Hillary said after the 2000 contested elections that she would push for electing a president by popular vote rather then electoral college. Not a peep out of Hillary since.

Let Florida and Michigan seat their delegates but after they have a fair caucus or primary. Obama was not even on the ticket in Michigan and he didn''t campaign in Florida because he was abiding by the agreement. Those are just the facts folks.

[b-easy63]

The most disgusting and undemocratic thing about the superdelegates is to hear what they often are promised or wooed with--jobs, posts, favors, etc--which means in the end, the election may not be decided by the people but may be bought or extorted from a few Democratic insiders.

Hilary says the caucuses are undemocratic--but they are way more so than the superdelegates--imagine the ability to not only vote once in your home state--but to be up for being bought by the potential candidates.

leave it to the Democrats to not recognize the pimping of their votes and the whor.ing of their candidates all in the name of Democracy? LOL

[b-easy63]

Shut it ******.

Nigggarz 2008!

Posted by TracyMorgan4 at 11:26 PM : Feb 16, 2008

TracyMorgan4
A Hilary shill posing as an Obama supporter--"fake azz bro" lmao

[b-easy63]

Hilary is promising to undo NAFTA now, raise the minimum wage to 9.50, revive economies in every state, stop all foreign aid to other countries, charge taxes on corps who outsource, and freeze interest rates and give everyone who wants one--a home.

Right--she has the power as President to do NONE of these things and she knows it--but she is counting on voters not to know this.

Hilary is a liar and as her offer to buy each of our children college funds with our own money--she promises a lot--but has no intention of keeping most of those promises. Hilary is good at that--as she said--she is not interested in promises--maybe her only really true statement. Hilary does not respect promises, vows or pledges--that is why it is to easy for her to break them or to accept them being broke by people close to her. REmember that pledge not to undermine or fight not seating the delegates from FL or MI? Promise kept until she started losing and won those states she was not supposed to be on the ballot in. Enough said.

[brundage3]

"Just the facts folks." - as one post said. And then pointed out Obama did not campaign in Forida. True.

NO Democratic candidate campaign in Florida. TRUE.

Several, including Obama and Clinton DID travel into the state for fund raising events that were closed to the general public and the media. (Each did get local medioa coverage of the fact they were doing the fund raising events of course.

And Clinton flew in on the night of the primary making no appearance until AFTER the polls had closed.
Both were on the ballot in Florida aand she won by a large margin. He is no complaining thaty she should not get delegates because he did not campaighn there. Neither did she.

[xzonz]

if the super delegates should ultimately decide the elections does it mean that my vote is irellevent? i want my vote to be considered and my voice heard that is why i will take my time to vote. Billary will NOT have my vote-sorry.

[epsa06]

Obama has spent nearly $700,000 on the superdelegates. So where is the politics of hope and change? On the one hand, he says that the superdelegates should vote according to the will of their constituents yet he is lobbying for their support. He hasn''t openly call for Kennedy and Kerry to vote for Clinton as she has won in Massasschuttes. What about Florida and Michigan, had he won in these states, he would be calling for their votes to be counted. He wants the cake and eat it. He thinks he can get away with it as he knows the media will support him. What has happened to holier than thou political purity?

[kesac4650]

It seems that "the Party of the People" has decided that the "people" cannot be trusted to choose our candidate. The Machine has reserved the means to make that choice for us. The DNC has made a farce of our primaries, and will make a farce of our nominationg convention, and it is too late for any of us to do anything about it.

[indigogrrl]

Lets see the MSM start reporting on Obama''s past and his current inconsistencies........ so the electorate can be TRULY informed before they vote.

[chitown639]

Abortion opponents see Obama''''s vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide.


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Posted by rozz62

This is the kind of dirty political tricks people are tired of, and the reason your candidate will lose the election. Thanks for helping the Obama Campaign make its point....

Obama 2008

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by b-easy63 at 03:01 AM : Feb 17, 2008

The thing is, Hillary has the competence to move and shake legislation. Obama has already shown his incompetence by his record.

And he and Michelle fully intend to be the first black couple to live in the ''White'' House! Like they''re not playing the race card to the hilt!!!

Obama lied last nite in Wisconsin. He said Hillary didn''t have a plan for social security. At the very first debate she stated her plan. Last nite in Wisconsin, Obama stated the same plan, and said Hillary didn''t have one! Now give me a break! This has been his practice all along...he takes someone elses plan, then claims he''s the ONLY one with a plan.

Michelle Obama clucks at HIllary that if you can''t keep your house in order, you don''t need to be president. However, Hillary''s house has stayed fast thru some very horrible times! Michelle Obama is a buffoon!

Go Hillary! Keep up the good fight!

[vet_sk]

The DNC and the lions share of the Super Delegates would never let the election be thrown in a different direction then the pledged delegates. They know that they would disenfranchise the vote of those of those that lost if it was just up to the supers. Hillary may be willing to push it but the supers know better.

I''d like to see both Clinton and Obama at the next debate pledge that they should ask the supers to go the direction of the people.

[vet_sk]

I love the Hillary people claiming that Hillary can move and shake legislation while claiming that Obama only makes great speeches. A huge part of what a President does to move legislation is to create a vision, set a direction and makes speeches to move support for it. Obama, hands down is much more capable of that then Hillary with her boxing gloves (she the one that held those up last week. Rediculous of her).

Then their is the commande and chief side of it. I would have been able to support Hillary but then she voted for the war in Oct 2002 - claiming she did not have time to read the NIE which said Saddams WMD claims were well overstated. And then the weapons inspectors were all over the waves telling Congress and the American people there were no WMDs in Iraq. Hillary voted for that just to look like the Margaret Thatcher of America.
Then just three months ago she voted to claim that the Iran Gaurd was a terrorist organization - knowing that Bush would try to use it in his War on Terror to bomb Iran. This vote forced the career professionals who wrote the NIE to to tell the president to release the NIE that said that Iran had no significant Nuke program or they would release it themselves.

[roxy000]

Unfortunately media is the one electing our president not superdelegates or my vote.

[pensacola88]

Obama does not accept campaign donations from Lobbyists or PACS. Hillary does.

Democrats have Superdelegates. Republicans have "Winner Take All" states.

It is clear. A Superdelegate is more free to make their choice than any Republican delegate. If a Republican delegate actually voted with the freedom and liberty of a Democratic Superdelegate, then they risk being considered a faithless delegate.

Most voters like the Democratic way to hold an election and most are attracted to a candidate who ran their campaign without accepting money from lobbyists or PACS.

[bogdog30]

Hanoi (jane the elder plus) explains the monologues to john john by saying say ''pretty putty baby'' - got it.

Kombat Kerry excited goes back to his stall and finds ...

the **** with Ears and Helen the reporter. Speaking spanish, the **** says si si si si.

[jwind11]

Hello, I am able bodied white man, I am tired of being republican and paying into the system. I think its time for the government to take care of me, so i want to quit job and live off the government. who should i vote for , hillary or obama? i need advice.

[jonsid2]

Forget about reaching that magic number of delegates. Go instead for the majority of delegates. Whoever gets the most delegates after all states have voted, (and that doesn''t include Mich or Florida), should get the nomination.

[omega39-2009]

Hello, I am able bodied white man, I am tired of being republican and paying into the system. I think its time for the government to take care of me, so i want to quit job and live off the government.
Posted by jwind11

Start a business where you produce half the product/service at twice the cost and sell it to the government as privatization, you''ll make a fortune.

[jwind11]

Start a business where you produce half the product/service at twice the cost and sell it to the government as privatization, you''''ll make a fortune.

Posted by omega39

no, i want to be a real liberal,i want to stay home and live off the government ***

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Move over Martin Luther King Jr! Obama is here to replace your dream! Maybe if you were alive you could look up to Him as your mentor! In any case you would carry Obamas luggage for His dream not your dream!

[croft777]

Move over Martin Luther King Jr! Obama is here to replace your dream! Maybe if you were alive you could look up to Him as your mentor! In any case you would carry Obamas luggage for His dream not your dream!pilgrimsway

What!?Civil right? For whom? Blacks? We don''t need this bull sh*t from a president. This isn''t the 1960s and 1970s fellow, we are well over that for the most part. I''m tired of hearing about this bull! The blacks can do just as much as the white folks. They want to go to college, they can take out student loans just as much as the whites, they want a job, well they can get them also. I''m not going to feel sorry for them. Their taking this civil rights to the extreme. I don''t like stereotyping groups of people, but you cannot help what you see. I live not far from a big city. This city is a place that alot of people don''t like going to anymore, at least not on the bad sides of town, which is begining to be almost the whole city. Why? Drugs, shootings and robberies. I can turn on my T.V. every day and in that city some black guy has either robbed, or shot someone.Not saying that no white person ever did, but it appears to be mostly black. You can''t blame whites for this. These people have every opportunity to get a job, go to college as anyone else, but they chose to do this instead. I''m not racist, I have friends who are black, good people, but there is no excuse for this.

[libra127]

"I''d like to see both Clinton and Obama at the next debate pledge that they should ask the supers to go the direction of the people."
Posted by Vet_SK at 09:30 AM : Feb 17, 2008

Yes, I agree. Then Kennedy and Kerry would have to vote for Hillary, since she won Massachusetts. LOL

[croft777]

Obama does not accept campaign donations from Lobbyists or PACS. Hillary does.

OBama said he is against politicians taking money from PAC and lobbyist. Obama takes money from state based PAC and lobbyist who are affiliated with the Washington lobbyist. Obama is a liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[croft777]

croft777 Im not racist, I have friends who are black,

Yet your post is purely based upon racism. Thus you are a hypocrit in denial, and a racist with blinders on.


How can you say that, go to that big city I was talking about, its listed as one of the top most dangerous places to be, and see if you feel to judge me as a racist!!

[croft777]

Heres another one for you that not only have I noticced, but others who have attended the same college as I have. During the first few weeks of the quarter, the campus is full of many African Americans, after that over half of them are gone. Why?

[croft777]

Obama said he was against NAFTA, but supports Peruvian trade agreement which is an extension on NAFTA.

OBama said he is against politicians taking money from PAC and lobbyist. Obama takes money from state based PAC and lobbyist who are affiliated with the Washington lobbyist.

Obama said to help pay for his purposed health insurance he would raise taxes and raise the tax on SS wages.

Obamas real estate deal and relationship with Arab- American activist Tony Rezko raises ethical questions. Rezko is in jail, he was a large contributor to Obamas fundraising. Obama was sold his home and land at a huge discounted price by Rezko.

Obamas church %u201CTrinity United Church of Christ%u201D in Chicago, gave Louis Farrakhan an empowerment award and publicized an interview with him in their Trumpet News Magazine. The Publication was titled, %u201CThe Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.%u201D Louis Farrakhan is a Black Muslim Leader. In a book titled, %u201CThe Islamic Invasion%u201D by Robert Morey, C.1992 he states:

%u201CIn a video tape of the 1991 %u201CSaviors Day%u201D celebration, the head of Farrakhan%u2019s army stated that he was tired of hearing people say that they were willing to die for Islam. What he wanted to know was if they were willing to kill for Islam (Morey, 1992)

[croft777]

Morey also states: The main mosque in South Chicago has been renovated through a large gift of money from Libyan dictator Khedive, a known sponsor of Terrorism throughout the world. The Financial bonding of Farrakhan to Khedive is potentially dangerous by anyone%u2019s standards. Is it any wonder that Farrakhan followed Khedive in publicly supporting Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War? (Morey, 1992)


Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright has stated:

%u201CThe Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for almost 40 years now. It took a divestment campaign to wake the business community up concerning the South African issue. Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community up and to wake America up concerning the injustice and racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism.%u201D

[croft777]

Shut it ******.

Nigggarz 2008!TracyMorgan4

You need your mouth washed out with soap! You need educated and you need to learn respect. Go back to school little boy/girl.

[jwind11]

can someone explain why there are no industrialized countries in africa, when some of the countries are older than the usa? just curious

[croft777]

croft777

Now I understand why you are a racist. You are also a Republicon that moved out of the city because you could not stand the possibility of a black neighbor. See how you segregationists have destroyed the USA, you are the number one cause of urban sprawl, you are why public education in the USA is now about the worst in the world, as you live in fear of all non-whites. neoconism

You don''t understand sh*t! For one, I''m a democrat, for two, I never lived in the big city, I''ve always been in the country, small town. I don''t segregrate people, they do themselves. I don''t fear blacks, I''m just not hip on living in some city where people are being killed every day. And not all the schools are in bad shape, there are many schools in good shape as far as education is concerned. I know of many. What the kids are learning today far excedes that of 20 years ago.Now the U.S thinks they have to compete with Japan. Thats how it all got started. The sciences. Students are stressed enough by what they have to know, and test they have to pass to graduate, I think thats enough.

[croft777]

can someone explain why there are no industrialized countries in africa, when some of the countries are older than the usa? just curious jwind11

For one, Africa is a third world country.They depend on outside countries for help. Africa is very poor. I know that used clothing from places like the U.S. etc is bought by people in Africa, who them place the clothing in the market to sale. The African dictators do not care about their people. The poor is segregated from the wealthy. They let these people starve and become victims of disease, such as malaria and aids. The list goes on and on.

[croft777]

Florida and Michigan needs to be counted!!! They should let the people revote, its only fair. It was not their fault that the date was changed.They need to be counted. Michigan is one of the most effected states that lost jobs. Florida has a great many number of voters that cannot be ignored. Hillary did win both those states, they need to play fair. They won''t go unheard before its said and done!