Delegates Count, but How do you Count Them?

There also seems to be confusion surrounding the obligation of delegates to actually vote for their pledged candidate.

According to the Democratic National Committee, technically, they don't have to.

"A delegate goes to the convention with a signed pledge of support for a particular presidential candidate. At the convention, while it is assumed that the delegate will cast their vote for the candidate they are publicly pledged to, it is not required."

The party's rules ask delegates to "in good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them."

And what happens to those Democratic delegates already pledged to John Edwards? He may be out of the race, but 26 delegates are still attached to his ticket.

Basically, those delegates may be pledged, but they're not legally bound to him.

According to the DNC: "As a sign of good faith, most former candidates will 'release' their delegates from voting for them; however, this is not required, and only has a symbolic meaning to it. Delegates can vote for another presidential candidate without being 'released.'"

Out of personal loyalty to him or his cause, they may also choose to follow whomever Edwards chooses to endorse. That is if he ever decides to make an endorsement.

Super Delegates, super confusing?
And then, there's the mother lode of all delegate questions: What are Super Delegates, and what makes them so super?

There are 796 in all, who are elected Democratic officials, such as governors and senators. They all have an ex officio, or an automatic vote at the convention.

Super Delegates amount to about 40 percent of the total number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination.

Some Super Delegates have publicly declared their support for Obama or Clinton. But the Super Delegate tally is often in flux: Just three days ago, Rep. Steve Cohen, D–Tenn., announced that he was supporting Obama.