CALIFORNIA: State Dems still have delegates for the taking

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/6/8 | Phillip Matier,Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

While the public's eye is on Hillary Rodham Clinton's primary win Tuesday in California, a second, behind-the-scenes fight is being waged in the Democratic ranks over "superdelegates" - party insiders who make up 71 of the state's 441 delegates.

These delegates answer to no one, but they could well tip the balance in a tight national race. And in this contest, most give Clinton the edge.

Thirty-one of the superdelegates are members of Congress and the rest are members of the Democratic National Committee. Being insiders, most have long ties to the Clintons.

So far, the Clinton campaign counts 34 superdelegates in their camp - including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Bay Area Reps. Ellen Tauscher, Lynn Woolsey, Mike Thompson and Tom Lantos, and 12 other House members.

Barack Obama counts seven congressional superdelegates, including Bay Area Reps. Barbara Lee, George Miller, Zoe Lofgren and Anna Eshoo. He counts another five national committee delegates.

That leaves 25 up for grabs.

"Obviously, there is a lot of lobbying going on," said state party chair Art Torres.

One superdelegate got a call from Hillary's college roommate, then Chelsea Clinton - then Hillary herself.

Still, many of the undecided may wait for the dust to settle - at least to see how their home districts voted before committing to one candidate or the other.

And the winner, please: Bar none, the biggest winners in Tuesday's California elections were a couple of guys named Chuck Winner (no joke) and Paul Mandabach - and not just because their ballot measures were ahead.

Winner and Mandabach's Santa Monica media firm rang up millions of dollars in fees for its work producing TV, radio and direct mail ads for the four Indian gambling initiatives on Tuesday's ballot, which waged a record-breaking $109 million campaign.

[Red Badger]

State Dems still have delegates for the taking......or buying......

[Hacklehead]

“State Dems still have delegates for the taking......or buying......”

or threatening.....

[Zeon Cowboy]

This system sucks.

[rob777]

My dream scenario is that Obama wins a bare majority of the delegates awarded for winning primaries, but Hillary inches him out in the total delegate count by strong arming the “Super Delegates”. There is a walk out at the Democratic Convention with cries of “stealing the nomination” and a chunk of Obama’s support either stay home, or support a third party candidate.

[SmithL]

IIRC, the Dems created the Super-Delegates to keep “The People” from choosing another McGovern.