Superdelegates is a media word

[pkz]

Superdelegate" is an informal term for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party.

Unlike most convention delegates, the superdelegates are not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state, in which voters choose among candidates for the party's presidential nomination. Instead, most of the superdelegates are seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former party leaders and elected officials ("PLEOs"). Others are chosen during the primary season. All the superdelegates are free to support any candidate for the nomination.

The Democratic Party rules do not use the term "superdelegate". This article follows the most common media practice in using the term "superdelegate" to refer to unpledged delegates, who fall into two categories:

delegates seated based on other positions they hold, who are formally described (in Rule 9.A) as "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates"<1> (unpledged PLEO delegates); and
additional unpledged delegates selected by each state party (in a fixed predetermined number), who are formally described (in Rule 9.B) as "unpledged add-on delegates" and who need not hold any party or elected position before their selection as delegates.<1>
Unpledged PLEO delegates should not be confused with pledged PLEOs. Under Rule 9.C, the pledged PLEO slots are allocated to candidates based on the results of the primaries and caucuses.<1> Another big difference between pledged PLEOs and unpledged PLEOs is that number of the former ones is fixed and predetermined, whereas the number of the latter ones has not any bounds. Pledged PLEO delegates are not generally considered superdelegates.

link to Charter of the DNC
http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v001/democratic1.download.akamai.com/8082/pdfs/20060119_charter.pdf

Article Two
National Convention

[stahbrett]

1. Uh... so?

Whatever you want to call them or not call them, the people commonly referred to as superdelegates will NOT yank the nomination away from the clear pledged delegates leader.

[depakid]

4. delete

double post

[depakid]

5. Seems to me you don't understand how the system is supposed to work

They certainly can- and HOPEFULLY WILL make their decisions based on who's likely to win in November.

That's what they're there for!

For instance, say a candidate with the lead is marred by scandal -and the 2nd candidate is likewise untenable. Under those circumstances, do you think that they will simply follow either one off a cliff like lemmings?

Or will they deadlock the convention and force a compromise?

[stahbrett]

7. Hillary can suspend her campaign, and re-animate it if Obama becomes "marred by scandal"

She can be on standby, so to speak - she can stop attempting to tear down Obama, get behind his nomination, then the convention can "fix" things (by either giving it to her, or to Gore, or whomever).

[depakid]

8. Now, why would she do that?

The best way for the convention to have its say is with 2 deadlocked candidates.

Historically, I should add, that nominees were rarely chosen on the 1st ballot. FDR took 3 in 1932- and he was FDR!

Had RFK not been shot, something similar would have happened in Chicago in 1968 (possibly sans the riots)

[stahbrett]

9. Nomination process in 1932 was just a *little* different, and...

Also, the convention in 1932 started in June (ended July 2nd).

[pkz]

2. This is response to a request in this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5284833&mesg_id=5284833

looking for the mentioned Superdelegate Charter

[Jersey Devil]

3. That's nice. Why don't you send this to Nancy Pelosi?

After trying to threaten her I'm certain that a recitation of the party rules will really be convincing. :sarcasm:

[madfloridian]

6. Very good blog from St. Pete Times about this subject.

Pushing for the superdelegates to count in FL and not the others....sends a message about being elite.

http://www.tampabay.com:80/news/politics/elections/article429960.ece

"Some key Clinton strategists think the best opportunity to resolve the Florida problem is a little-noticed appeal of that punishment by Jon Ausman, an uncommitted DNC member from Tallahassee.

Ausman contends that the DNC's rules committee lacks the authority to keep Florida's superdelegates from voting at the convention, and some rules-savvy DNC members think he has a strong case. More questionable is Ausman's argument that only half of Florida's delegates should have been stripped.

The DNC's rules and bylaws committee is likely to take up Ausman's challenge in a few weeks and could wind up with a politically sticky verdict: Elite party officials and elected officials get a voice in the nomination, but not delegates representing everyday Democrats. Nice message that would send.

If Hillary Clinton really cares about Florida Democrats having a voice in the nomination, she ought to make sure her allies on the committee find a way to embrace Ausman's challenge and get Florida's delegates seated. And she ought to hammer out a deal between her campaign, Obama's and the DNC.

Otherwise, to paraphrase her critique of Obama, all her calls to give voice to Florida voters are just words."