Superdelegates say, we will decide

The Hill ^ | 5/06/08 | Alexander Bolton

[kingattax]

Uncommitted Democratic superdelegates in Congress overwhelmingly say they won’t necessarily back the presidential candidate who wins the most primary delegates. Instead, electability will be very important in their decision.

Of 42 lawmakers interviewed by The Hill, only four said they regarded the primary vote as decisive.

The congressional superdelegates’ independence is precisely what Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) is banking on as she trails by about 130 pledged delegates behind rival Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

It also means the Democratic Caucus is unswayed by its leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), who has warned that the party will suffer if superdelegates overturn the will of primary voters. Pelosi has said superdelegates should take into account whatever is important but not give the nomination to the candidate who lags in delegates.

But Pelosi’s troops on Capitol Hill say they are more concerned about electability, plus each candidate’s momentum heading toward the convention, and how their own constituents voted.

Clinton is given little chance of catching Obama’s delegate count in the last few primaries. But her campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks as Obama has been on the defensive over his former pastor and charges of elitism.

Only 10 percent of lawmakers interviewed by The Hill said the delegate count on June 4, the day after the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota, will determine whom they decide to support. There are 70 neutral superdelegates in the House and 22 in the Senate.

“What will be decisive will be two factors: who would make the best president and who has the best chance of winning,” said Rep. Howard Berman (D), an uncommitted lawmaker from Los Angeles.

Neutral Democrats representing districts across the country voiced the same sentiment.

[RipSawyer]

Looks more like at typical white guy to me.

[Owen]

There is way too much obsession on FR about the factions of the Democrats.

Factions of Democrats do not win elections. Factions of Republicans do not win elections.

The Independent Moderates win elections. Independent maverick McCain is MUCH closer to the political center, and has a reputation as such, than Obama. McCain is not all that much closer to the political center by reputation than Hillary can be painted to be.

It is for this reason that Obama is the preferred nominee for the leftists, and for FR. The center wins elections. You want the least conservative choice (the more liberal, aka Obama) to be farther from the center than the less liberal, aka, more conservative) choice — which is McCain.

[Kieri]

Riots in Denver.

A lot of those rioters will probably be bussed in from Detroit.

[MtnClimber]

Do you think that blacks voting for Democrats is like Stockholm Syndrome?

[lexusppd]

Who knows what they will do at the Convention. I know today there was a story of an interview with a S elegate who said clearly that the criteria to assign SD votes is NOT limited to who has the lead going into the Convention, He said the question of who had the better chance of winning would weigh heavily in their decision making.

In any case the campaign goes on and the longer it goes on the better for us.

[lexusppd]

So it really doesn’t matter who the people want as a candidate, they are the deciders. Shows what a farce the whole thing is.

Exactly right and that's what makes this all so devastating for the Democrats. What amazes me is that there are many here who cannot seem to see this damage and actually believe it will magically disappear as soon as a nominee is decided.

[RonF]

You know, I’ve seen this a couple of times today. Why is Hillary referred to with all 3 of her names all of a sudden, but Barak is not?

[tsmith130]

Sorry, really slow work day, and I just couldn't resist...

I just knew someone would say it, so it might as well be you!

[festus]

I think so too.

[festus]

I bet a city by city crime comparison for the days of the convention would show where they came from :-)

[george76]

http://bp2.blogger.com/_qJGvnOCBQcA/SC0YLzK00sI/AAAAAAAAAXg/gP95hrg4fdM/s1600/supersbq4.gif

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks geo.

Uncommitted Democratic superdelegates in Congress overwhelmingly say they won't necessarily back the presidential candidate who wins the most primary delegates. Instead, electability will be very important in their decision. Of 42 lawmakers interviewed by The Hill, only four said they regarded the primary vote as decisive. The congressional superdelegates' independence is precisely what Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) is banking on as she trails by about 130 pledged delegates behind rival Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.)

The local garbage wrapper's top story tonight was that Hillary has no hope, even with MI and FL, because the cult leader has 1800+ delegates.

That leaves him over 300 delegates short of nomination.

Obama can't seem to close the deal -- but that's because his real views about us bitter gun-totin' xenophobic white racists keep emerging from his mouth. So does his obvious alliance with Moslem terrorist groups. So does his lying, obfuscation, flip-flopping, self-contradictory statements, and entitlement-based superiority complex.

Sweetie, I'm eatin' a waffle, and it's the waffle I'm going need later when I'm waffling about some issue. [blows nose]

Hillary will lose a good chunk of the working class vote with her tax plans.

Hillary will lose a few percent of those bitter, SNS-totin' inner city black voters upset when she steals the nomination in Denver. Many more won't vote at all, same reason.

Hillary will lose white voters disgusted by the nomination fight denouement.

The nation is moving to the right again, but we're not going to get there in one big leap.

[SunkenCiv]

hmm, didn’t work. This did:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_qJGvnOCBQcA/SC0YLzK00sI/AAAAAAAAAXg/gP95hrg4fdM/s1600/

[Berosus]

"Stock up on popcorn, hot wings, brats and ammo."

I expect to run out of popcorn before the convention. Why, oh why, did the Dims schedule it for the end of August, if they wanted to choose a candidate quickly? By then I'll probably be fighting with my parrot for his dried pellets.

(My parrot says, "Nooooo!")

[SunkenCiv]

Polly wants a saccharide.

[eyedigress]

I would bet that half the voters that vote democrat have no idea what a super-delegate is.

[cynwoody]

Riots in Denver.

http://www.recreate68.org