Here is where things stand in terms of pledged delegates: Obama 25, Hillary 24, Edwards 18.

[Apollo11]

At the Democratic National Convention in Denver (August 25-28), there will be 3,515 pledged delegates (selected by primary voters and caucus participants), plus 852 superdelegates (including members of Congress and Governors). So from a total of 4,367 delegates, a candidate needs the support of 2,184 deletates to win the nomination.

My point is: it's not over yet! B-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)_presidential_primaries,_2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_National_Convention

[MNDemNY]

1. Onward to a brokered convention!!!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Mrs. Overall]

2. What exactly happens in a brokered convention? How is the decision made?

on edit: Looked it up on Wikipedia. Sounds like an interesting process.

[Old and In the Way]

5. If there is no clear winner coming out of the primaries, delegates

will select the candidate to run. In 2004, Kerry was the overwhelming choice of the primary voter, so the delegates simply validated the results. When there is no majority winner of delegates by the time of the convention, the delegates vote until there is a winner. Lots of horse trading and politics goes on behind the scenes as the candidates try to cut deals to gain votes in the various state delegations.

[Mrs. Overall]

6. Thanks for answering my question!

[MNDemNY]

10. And maybe, just maybe "someone" not running steps in.

[liberal N proud]

3. Not such a wide race after all

And who is the "front runner" as the MSM wants to call one or the other?

[Bitwit1234]

4. Hell I been saying that since Iowa and Hillary's gonna be it....

No matter what the doodle boppers say....she's the ONE.

[laconicsax]

7. Oh my god!!!!

After two small states made their picks, there's no possible outcome other than a brokered convention.

[kestrel91316]

8. John Edwards, the Kingmaker (or Queenmaker, as it were).

I like the idea of that. He can parlay his delegates' votes into a cabinet position.......

[frazzled]

9. The number of current delegates is immaterial

Only two small states are involved. When the numbers of delgates expands exponentially on Super Tueday is when we see the chaff separated from the wheat: if Edwards continues to receive only 15-17% of the vote, he will ultimately receive only 15% or so of the delgates. Simple as that.

Please face reality: short of Clinton and Obama being found in bed together, in flagrante delicto, Edwards is not going to win the nomination. He can, however, be the spoiler--the Nader or Bloomberg--of this nominating procedure. He seems to take some pleasure in doing that.

[Apollo11]

11. Comparing Edwards with Nader is way out of line

Edwards is taking part in the primary process and it's up to Democrats in each state to decide which candidate they want to support for the Democratic nomination.

In Iowa and NH combined something like half-a-million people have taken part in the Democratic primary process up until now. Like John Edwards says - 99% of Americans have not yet been given a chance to have their voices heard. That's why he is promising to take his campaign all the way to the Convention.

Not only does he have a right to continue his campaign, but for him to quit now would be a betrayal of everyone who has been supporting him over the past 12 months.

[cali]

12. no. it's not over, but it is a two person race.

There is virtually no state that Edwards has a chance to win before Feb 5th. Without a win before Feb 5th, he has no chance of winning or coming in second in any of the 23 states voting on Super Tuesday. His percentages will probably drop on that day as well. Even if there is a brokered convention, he won't get to play kingmaker unfortunately. I'd much rather he did than te SDs, but it's just not going to happen.

[Apollo11]

13. If there is a brokered convention, Edwards delegates could play a decisive role.

Especially if Obama and Edwards together have more than 2,184 delegates.

Edwards will pick up votes from people who think he is more progressive and more electable that either Hillary or Obama.