Delegates Count, but How do you Count Them?

 

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NBC News isn't including Super Delegates in its current tally. That's because current Super Delegate pledges are just public commitments. They can change their minds at any point, and it's not considered shameful or unusual; it's just practical politics.

"Everyone has a different standard for counting these. We have decided to keep these separate and attribute it to the campaigns. We are in the process of figuring out a better way to survey the super delegates," said NBC's Todd.

History has taught us that that some Super Delegates will jump ship if the winds of electoral change are upon them. And sometimes they'll just lie low and wait for a failing candidate to drop out before they switch camps.

Buyer's remorse can be a powerful motivator.

Case in point: The 2004 Democratic race when some of Howard Dean's delegates crept away from him after his defeat in the Iowa caucuses.

So, as you can see, there are several variables contributing to what has become a confusing Democratic race for president. With Clinton and Obama running so closely, these variables may loom ever larger.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Texasgal @ 02/13/2008 4:03:44 AM

    mmmmm

  • Posted By: roncraw @ 02/12/2008 3:02:45 PM

    I see a overwhelming need for the knowledgable super delegates. It's hard to believe the number of comment writers who say Hillary was the only one on the Fl. ballot.Are these the people that should pick the nexr Dem Nom..All 6 were on the ballot I voted. In fact Obama ran an ad here prior to the primary.

  • Posted By: ericrsiny @ 02/12/2008 11:33:28 AM

    On the one hand the Obama campaign is saying that we should not change the rules in the middle of the game and allow the Florida and Michigan delegates to be seated but yet they DO want to change the rules in the middle of the game and state that super delegates should not be allowed to vote how they want (which has been the rule for 20 years) but rather they should vote based on some other factor. Is the Obama campaign saying that the Florida and Michigan delegates should not be seated since those are the rules but the rules should be broken when it comes to super delegates?

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