Posted on 03/06/2016 6:46:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
While the process to nominate Democrat and Republican candidates for president are essentially the same, there is a notable difference in just who will vote at the nominating committee.
That difference comes in the form of something Democrats call a “superdelegate.” You are likely to hear the term – though an unofficial one – quite a bit in the coming months.
Here’s a quick look at what a superdelegate is and what they do.
What is a Superdelegate?
A Superdelegate is a person who is a delegate to the national nominating convention but who is not “bound” to a candidate, meaning they may vote for anyone they wish, regardless of the outcome of the popular vote in the states they represent.
Who can be a superdelegate?
In the Democratic party, superdelegates are made up of two groups – prominent current or formerly-elected Democrats (presidents, governors and all the current Democratic members of the House and Senate) and members of the Democratic National Committee.
How many are there?
There are 712 superdelegates involved in the 2016 nomination process.
How does that voting work?
First some math. The Democratic nomination will be determined by 4,763 total delegates — 4,051 chosen by voters in state caucuses and primaries, and 712 (roughly 15 percent) are superdelegates. The superdelegates are “unbound” meaning they can support whom they wish. Come convention time, they will make their choice and vote along with their state for the candidate of their choice.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
NOTE: As of March 2, 457 superdelegates have pledged to vote for Hillary Clinton, with 22 pledged to vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to The New York Times Delegate Tracker.
Republicans don’t have superdelegates.
Sounds like the superdelegates are in a good position to accept envelopes under the table, no? la cosa nostra style
The superdelegate system was rigged to pave the way for Hillary in ‘08. The Clinton machine didn’t figure on the potency of the hopium the SD herd was grazing on. They got drunk and stampeded and left her with an empty corral. This time, the SD system will work as intended and deliver the nomination to Hillary. The cost will be a huge tranche of very disaffected ‘Rat voters who will not turn out for her in the general election.
SDs have been the same since right after the 1972 election. They owe Hillary nothing. They earn their status by being elected to public office.
But what about the super duper delegates?
Why do they even bother having primaries?
I just wonder if they have any relationship to the Clinton Foundation?
How are the superdelegates chosen and if they are unbound, why are they pledging support at this time? Have any superdelegates pledged themselves to Sanders? Seems like they are all going to the felon.
Sounds like a fancy way to rig an election.
They are the ones that handle the money going to the super delegates and there are lots of them.
Superdelegates are bound to the candidate that they have committed too. Kevin Rizzo wrote a great article about it. I wasn’t sure how it works and emailed him, and of course he was able to elaborate further.
A SD commits to a candidate and will vote for that candidate even if the voting population votes for the other candidate by a landslide. So, yes, buying votes is the theme of the day.
I didn't say the Clintons instituted the SD system. It's been around a long time. It was revamped to essentially its present rules in 1982, not '72, in reaction to the crushing defeats of McGovern and Carter.
I could have been more clear had I said that the Clintons thought they had bought the support, rather than rigged the system, of the SDs in '08.
What are superdelegates ? A scam created by the Political Class to take the power from the voter ?
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