Global Politics, U.S. Elections
They’re Not Birds, Nor Planes…They’re The Superdelegates
THE SUPERDELEGATES— any of you who have been closely watching the rollercoaster of a Democratic Party primary elections have surely heard about them already. I for one hasn’t had heard of them except for now; despite that I have had great interest in U.S. pre-election contests for many years now.
Of course — contrary to the way they are termed — they aren’t newly-invented superheroes with flowing capes and glinting gloves fitted to their hands, but real people who are designated to hold distinguished positions in the Democratic Party organizations and has superior voting preferences in the primaries, that in the Democratic Party convention this coming August, they might just be the ones to put finality as to the person of the party standard bearer, whether Senator Barack Obama or Senator Hillary Clinton.
As of now, Sen. Obama had gained more pledge votes by performing well in a number of primaries and caucuses held earlier in the year, more than what Sen. Clinton had gained that right now, Sen. Obama merely needs 176 pledged votes in the remaining primaries for him to finally clinch the nomination.
But as of now, and despite the magic number 176 of Obama, the contest is still seen by many as tight and could still run wide open as the next state to vote, which is West Virginia, is expected to go largely in favor of Sen. Clinton.
The latest news is that Sen. Obama had finally overtaken Sen. Clinton in the number of superdelegates that are expected to vote in August. Observers have suggested that in order for Sen. Clinton to overturn the overall lead of Sen. Obama throughout the primaries, she needs to win big among the superdelegates in August. A slight margin of win for her among the superdelegates would not matter as much.
There were some early criticisms in fact about how the Democratic Party nomination system could become undemocratic in a certain way, where the superdelegates could decide to set aside the results of the primaries, after hundreds of thousands of Democratic Party members throughout America from East Coast to West Coast, have exerted efforts to voice out their nomination choices, only to be overturned by the superdelegates, who are party stalwarts designated to their position or stature merely because they are party officials and elected officials. They are called PLEO’s.
There is no stopping the superdelegates from going against the will of the majority or results of the numerous primaries; they could vote irrespective of the primary results, especially in a very tight contest like this. That, even if Sen. Obama garnered the most votes in the primaries, the superdelegates could still overturn this and push Sen. Clinton as the party standard bearer by largely voting for her. “So much for democracy”, I have heard one party member quipped over CNN.
So the race they say between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton would most possibly go down the wire, even towards August during the party convention where the superdelegates would finally vote, and this despite many observers had already advised Sen. Clinton to withdraw from the race as the lead of Sen. Obama in the primaries is nearly insurmountable, merely a mathematical possibility.
But because superdelegates could still matter in August, Sen. Clinton is pushing on.
Wil Says —
They should just get rid of the superdelegates. What’s the point of having delegates if superdelegates can overrule them? It’s just like the US electoral college system. Popular vote doesn’t always equal being elected.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
the suspect Says —
i am for hillary… and i am hoping that she sails through this primaries. i agree that she indeed has a difficult road ahead but she is determined and resilient. and because of that, the americans will see the value of having a leader that will fight with them even with trying times ahead.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Wil: There were talks to that effect bro, about amneding or revvising rules and guidelines for primaries, especially on the Democratic Party side (the Republicans are not really into superdelegates or their superdelegates does not hold as much preferences). Maybe next time around, it’d be changed.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Major Tom Says —
To the suspect : I can see that virtue in Sen. Clinton too and that’s a great plus for her.
Since I am not really a interested party in the US Elections, I have no designated nominee from either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton. I just wish them both well. Although sometimes i could lean on towards supporting Obama because of his rhetorics and of course, the novelty of one day witnessing the first black president of America. That’s be history we all don’t want to miss.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
Panaderos Says —
Hillary still has a card that she can play: the votes in Michigan and Florida that were not counted because both states were disqualified by the DNC for moving their primaries to an earlier date. That’s Hillary’s “nuclear” option.
The one thing that has gone unreported throughout all the hype over Obama’s victories is that in a lot of his victories, he was never able to garner a majority of the white vote. Even in North Carolina where he beat Hillary by more than 12%, Obama only managed to garner 405 of the white vote. That could present a serious problem and challenge in the general elections once he becomes the Democratic Party nominee for President.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
Panaderos Says —
Sorry, typo error. 405 above was meant to be 40%.
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
snglguy Says —
The white votes might still save the day for Hillary Clinton. And even if Obama does get the nomination, he’ll have a hard time beating McCain. Not that I’m for the Republican candidate, but this is still the US of A and I doubt if we will see a black American sit in the oval office… just my two cents
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
pining Says —
well, whoever wins will surely make a mark: will it be a first woman president or a first black president…we’ll see. may the best man (or woman) win!
Made on May 11, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
eric aka senor enrique Says —
I don’t think America is quite ready to have a black, Jewish or Asian president; mayor, congressman, senator, perhaps, but not as president. There is still the silent but powerful WASP oligarch in America that presidential candidates have to contend with.
But then again, if Obama has someone behind him as powerful and rich a political power broker as Joseph Kennedy once was, he might just make it. After all, JFK wasn’t expected to win on account of his being a Catholic.
I should also point out that if the Filipinos lament about the “talangka mentality” within its midsts, such human frailty is even at its worst in the black community. And sadly, to date, the black community, much like the Filipinos as a nation, does not have a “true leader.”
Made on May 12, 2008 @ 6:58 am
Major Tom Says —
To Panaderos: If that’s true, Sen. Obama not having the support of the white populace, even within the Democratic Party he belongs to, then that’s a major point of concern and I wonder why Sen. Clinton and her team, despite all the personal tirades that had been hurled between the two camps in the past weeks, haven’t capitalized on this and make the public know how an Obama candidacy would be fragile and divisive.
Made on May 12, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Major Tom Says —
To sngl: I thought the Democrats would run away with the victory in November just becoz Iraq War was a huge black-eye to the Republicans. But you’re right, a black president seem to good to be true—but then again, we’ll never really know until the votes are counted.
Made on May 12, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Pining: There’s sure be a first this year, first woman or first Afro-American presidential nominee. It’s historic and a novelty at the same time. Maybe it’s a signal for finally breaking barriers in race and gender, in a huge way.
Made on May 12, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Major Tom Says —
To eric: I feel that way somehow but I can see the possibility as most viable now, if Sen. Obama wins the DP nomination, since the Republicans would be hard-pressed to overcome the hugely unpopular Iraq issue, which most Americans see as a mess.
Made on May 12, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Haze Says —
I am not a voter from there but I just hope there will be no fraud and waste of time. I am sure Americans are intelligent to vote for the person who really deserve to be the next President. Sex and color aren’t important as long as HE/SHE will do the duties not only as a President but a human being. Unlike in my place…they made an enormous mistake, I guess
!
Made on May 13, 2008 @ 3:18 am
Major Tom Says —
To Haze: That’s the ideal thing, to be completely unbiased but right now, race and gender had still shown its ugly head as an issue, and I think Sen. Clinton had received some discouragement because of her subtle attempt at putting attention to Sen. Obama’s color. In fact, there’s some clear statistical data how the white conservatives, and white blue collars have voted sensitively about color. I bet, it couldn’t be completely set aside. it’s human nature at work there.
Made on May 14, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Jayred Says —
Seems to me that the Democrats are divided at the moment. With the close fight between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, we’ll never really know who’s going to clinch the nomination.
Made on May 14, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
bw Says —
Looks like Obama’s candidacy is in the bag but Hilary is still betting on that famous Yogi Berra quote ” it ain’t over until it’s over ”
Obama is a smart guy but I really doubt his leadership skills and I’m not trying to say Bush is much better. I guess America just needs new blood for a change and whether it will work for the better remains to be seen.
Made on May 14, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
bugsybee Says —
I go for Hillary, too. Obama is young - he could have waited for his turn and, in the process, gain more experience. The U.S. is in a recession and I think that they’ll need Hillary’s experience (and brains) to battle the hard times and get up again.
But if Hillary loses this, she might never have another chance.
Made on May 15, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Major Tom Says —
To Jayred: That’s the main concern right now for them, the riff between Sen.Obama and Sen. Clinton is getting wider and wider and becoming more and hurtful. This would surely affect the election chances of the eventual nominee.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 8:23 am
Major Tom Says —
To BW: And exit polls shows how Sen. Obama is having a hard-time culling in white working class voters. The Edwards support may play in his favor on this matter, but the statistic is just too worrisome for him.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 8:26 am
Major Tom Says —
To bugsybee: She shows some prowess in economics which Sen. Obama lacks. She’d be good in that matter.
Made on May 16, 2008 @ 8:28 am
annamanila Says —
I can’t really decide what I prefer to see soon: the first woman president or the first black president of America. I hope either would happen.
Made on May 19, 2008 @ 10:58 pm