Super-Delegates: Can they subvert the wishes of the majority of voting Democrats?

Are there no rules that govern them? Seems they can change candidates on a whim.
Is this at all democratic? I don't know much about them, so if anyone can explain it to me,
I'd really appreciate it.

Most of them have to run for office, and most of those who don't run for office have to run for DNC seats.

Believe me, both campaigns will know who voted how, and the word will spread like wildfire.

The ones to worry about are the superDs who are retiring or retired. They might act against their constituency, because they want to feather the next bed they intend to lie in.

:hi:

It would be possible for one candidate to have more pledged delegates, but for the other to win because of superdelegates. That said, the superdelegates, many of whom are elected officials themselves, are well aware of what that would do to the party.

and how is that fair?

those party officials had ALL the power. It's only in the modern, primary-election era that voters have had much of a say. After the 1968 convention, when the party restructured how it selects candidates, it gave itself those superdelegate positions to make sure it held onto some say over who gets elected.

more heavily and, if so, do you happen to know the ratio they've given?

I'm new to this whole area of politics, so I appreciate your input.
Thanks!

there are so many of them -- 796, to be precise -- that their votes can swing the nomination one way or the other, if a large majority of them decide to support one candidate. So far Hillary has 211 superdelegates to Obama's 128, with the rest standing by. That said, you have to remember that superdelegates can change their position on a whim, so their promises to vote for one candidate or another mean very little.

:hi:

Every time I read a post like this I cant help but think this comes from a Hillary supporter.

Im not saying you're one (I dont know that), but I've seen many of these posts, and most do come from that side.

Now here my opinion on this.....

The super delegates are votes in the convention that represent office holders who have (in most cases) supported one candidate in the primaries over another.

They are as free to support whoever they like as you are.

Major problem... a once in a life time chance for either of the candidates to be the FIRST.

First President of Color whoose supporters mandate that their candidate tries to change the way politics are played in our USA

First Female President of an ex impeached President ... sorry couldnt help myself

No ones going to give ... This MUST be won outright in the primary by either candidate.

But will the superdelegates at the convention decide to subvert the efforts of the movement for change? I have a feeling the fix is already in.

I submit that Billary 08 will cajole or pigeon hole his former party member underlings to "follow your old leader". Loyalty to the party must trump the mandate for change. Besides new and fresh ideas are bad, scarry... The old ways are the best, stay with what we have. Paranoid? Conspiracy? No... If Sen Obama's supporters thinks he was not given a fair playing field to compete on.. these will be some of the talking points.

When that happens.... and I submit that it will. All bets will be off. Does anyone think that these newley registered and independent voters are card carrying "My democratic party right or wrong.. follow me" types? Sen Obama being a Party loyalist will make the plea to his supporters to unite behind Billary 08... my guess is that few will follow...

selection via primaries and caucus. Without this comprise we would have 100% insider selection. A good deal IMO.

They trust their members to come up with a nominee.

Superdelegates are undemocratic, and their original purpose was to help those "crazy" primary voters from choosing another McGovern.

primaries.

So that's good.

Maybe :D

We elected all of them. Just because they have been active democrats more than two months they are not all evil.

on a topic about which I know very little.:blush:

A large portion are DNC members, who the voting public really does not have a say in.