Just who are these “Superdelegates” anyway?
CNN.com has compiled a listing of the now (in)famous Democratic Superdelegates. Superdelegates are the unpledged state representatives who will have a vote at the Democratic National Convention, but who are not bound by the popular vote of their state.
Each state has a different number of superdelegates (they are, basically, “awarded” proportionally). Generally, they are elected officials from the state (such a Senator or US Representative), but many are members of the Democratic National Committee or “add-ons”.
Currently (again, according to CNN.com), Hillary Clinton is endorsed by 272 such delegates, including recognizable names such as:
Bill Clinton (NY), Distinguished Party Leader;
Heath Shuler (NC), US House of Representatives;
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (MD), Add-on;
Barbara Boxer (CA), US Senate; and,
Jon Corzine (NJ), Governor.
Barack Obamacurrently has 268 committed superdelegates. Some interesting names on his list include:
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL), US House of Representatives,
John Kerry (MA), US Senate;
Bill Richardson (NM), Governor;
Christopher Dodd (CT), US Senate; and,
Patrick Kennedy (RI), US House of Representatives.
Superdelegates, Hillary Clinton (NY) and Barack Obama (IL) support candidates, Clinton and Obama, respectively.
You don’t say! Clinton supports Clinton and Obama supports Obama. Has anyone every run for Prez who wasn’t a superdelegate (I mean since supers have existed, of course)?
That is an excellent question. The superdelegates have been around since 1982 – Of course, the first presidential election in which they were implemented was 1984. At that time the state party officials had a lot more control of the selections, being able to designate about 50% of the delegation (the other 50% being made up of/by members of Congress). Presently, every (Dem) member of Congress is eligible to be a superdelegate, with DNC members, governors, mayors, “distinguished party leaders” and “add-ons” taking up the remaining spots allotted to each state.