Oregon superdelegates keep their powder dry

[sniffa]

This may be the year that the "superdelegates" of the Democratic Party could play a big role in selecting the party's presidential nomination. Most people don't realize it, but nearly 20 percent of the delegates to the national convention are party leaders and elected officials who can vote however they want.

Since 1980, the nominating race has been settled long before the convention and it didn't really matter what the superdelegates thought. But if neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama delivers a knockout blow in Feb. 5's "Super Tuesday," the votes of the backroom bosses of the Democratic Party could make the difference in helping one of the candidates get to the 50 percent threshold.

So far, Oregon's 12 superdelegates have been remarkably circumspect. Only Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., have made endorsements (both are backing Clinton). The other 10 are biding their time.

Nationally, it's a quite different picture, with nearly 40 percent of the superdelegates already pledging themselves to a candidate, according to a CNN tally. (Side note: There could be nearly 800 superdelegates, but the exact number depends in large part on whether the party goes ahead with its threat to strip Florida and Michigan of its delegates for holding early primaries).

http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/01/oregon_superdelegates_keep_the.html

[sniffa]

1. and i'm gonna kick this

just because it's a non-top-tier subject... though it obviously will be about the top tier eventually.