What happens if there isn’t a commanding lead by either candidate?
Are you suggesting that superdelegates will jump from their choice to go with the most popular? I hope people vote their conscience and not vote just to bring an end to the process. We’ll see.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

Before you superdelegates think of switching your support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, please take into consideration that in the states where a voter could vote for a Democrat in the Primary, even if they were not a registered Democratic voter, there is a fair amount who have voted for Obama because that’s who they think the Republican nominee has the best chance of beating in the general election. The aim is to to get rid of Hillary. They, especially the men who voted for Obama, will not vote for him in the General Election. They will vote for the Republican nominee, so please do not be fooled by this tactic.

Another thing to consider is what Bill Clinton said when he was running for President…something to the effect that you vote for one but you get two for your vote. The same applies to Barack Obama. With him you also get Mrs. Barack Obama who, until recently always finished his speeches with one of her own, until the news media noticed it and made mention of it. Obviously Mrs. Obama has a great deal to do with how her husband’s campaign is run. If he is elected will he make the speeches and she make policy?

Not much is said anymore about Mrs. Obama’s remark that this is the first time in 25 years of her adult life that she is proud of her country. People in his campaign have tried to explain their rendition of what she meant by that remark but she has not addressed the meaning behind that remark and you can be sure that the Republicans will if he is the nominee. What the First Lady or Man says and how they conduct themselves is very important because they represent our country, especially abroad. Whether you like him or not, Bill Clinton is very well respected throughout the world.

I wonder if you ask people on the street what has John Mccain, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama done while serving in the senate done what will they say? Will they be able to tell you anything?

Nice job, Jason. I think the majority of people are with you on that. I support Obama, but would vote democrat over republican in this election to help get our troops home. There is a lot of ugly language going on in these blogs and with the talking tv heads, that make me hope this thing wraps up this Tuesday, before any real damage gets done.

I agree, Tuesday will be the final showdown for the superdelegates to see if the Obama phenomena is real or whether it is a fad that might fade before Nov. Obama is charming but there is a lot of hesitation among the superdelegates to jump on board in fear that he would fade in the general. After Tuesday they will know if there is still real hesitation among Democrats and will make their alliances.

A good analysis. Sadly it seems that neither will have a different substantional lead. At the moment the pledged delegate lead is about 150 for Senator Obama according to CNN. It constitues about a 10% lead although not sure anyone would call that commanding.

Id agree we are blessed with 2 strong candidates. I think 1 aspect that the superdelegates need to look at is just how does one define best interest of the party. There could be a few ways to look at this: Who is leading in polls versus Senator McCain, Who has the most resources, Who has the drive, Who has recruited new members. Most of these would be on the Obama side at present.. The Clinton camp no doubt will spin that drive (momentum) will be on their side if they win in Ohio and Texas. My counter would be that even being close is in many ways a loss given her commanding lead not long ago.
One other key area of concern is just how many body blows (and sometimes head shots) are they landing to eachother. Some are completely legitimate in my view anyway. I have no issues with Senator Clinton asking about if Senator Obama has the experience. If she doesnt ask it than Senator McCain surely will. I have no issue with Senator Obama saying you have said you are pro NAFTA (nor do I care is she has decided that with new data that perhaps it needs to be relooked at). I would suggest in both situations judgement is what is required. In my profession (physician) data does change and we may have to change medications or use alternative therapies based on this new information. I would also point out that it is often the new person who may have command over a subject that you would prefer rather than the “old hand”.
What I do have issue with however, and something I think the superdelegates need to look at closely, is when candidates use innuendo and smear tactics. I refer you to the pictures of Senator Obama dressed in Somalia garb. These appear to come from the Clinton camp and when asked on 60 minutes about if Senator Obama is a Muslim (not that being a Muslim is wrong but sadly many equate this to terror in correctly) she hedges. For someone who insisted on refute and denounce this is just sad. It shows that Senator Clinton will go to any lengths to win even if ultimately destructive to the party (not to mention lies). Is this the party that Democrats want? Is the is the nominee what we deserve? If so what really is different from the tactics of the Republicans?
I think the party elders owe it to the American people to stand up publically and say that isnt how we do business. People deserve better. I would go one step farther if you offer them a better style of leadership not based on fear but on real diffences people will flock to tthat person. Senator McCain has tried to position himself as that in the past , the superdelegates need to know the consequences if they want to play the same old game of politics that so many are sick of these days.

i would hope the super delegates get the best information to vote for the candidate that would best serve this country…….not be forced to endorse someone that is not clearly the best choice for all americans……i would suggest that voters do some research before going on some movement that may damage the american dream……our economy is in a crisis and i would suggest that everyone takes a look at each candidates tax plan. the bottom line is taxes affect jobs, housing and everything……. higher taxes, more government means jobs leave our country…….. if we are to hold the super delegates to vote the way their state has voted by the popular vote. the governer of my state would be forced to vote for hilary clinton, but has stated that she supports barack obama…..but that is her choice and i think that the super delegates should have that choice as well………..party members should not be calling them with threats, sending threating emails…….. where does it all end? meeting with other countries about nafta……….then trying to hide the fact that it was done…….how honest are these people going to be when elected? folks it doesnt change when elected, it will only gets worse . the bigger the lie the more they will believe it……………

WE DON’T NEED TO UNITE BEHIND A PARTY AND RUSH TO JUDGEMENT …GEEZ …. BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE ELECTING ? ? There is a process to follow and it needs to be followed … this is an election NOT A CAR SALE !

Jason
What are your reasons for supporting Obama?

OH MY GOSH! NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT YOUR AGE! FINALLY! I would agree that most super delegates are happy with both candidates, and I am not at all surprised that you have followed them in line. BUT WHY? Where are the super delegates that dislike both candidates? We need to hear from someone who dislikes both and ask who is the lesser of two evils. Where is the marketplace of ideas that use to be so common in the democratic party? It seems that the democrats have grown a backbone since 2004. Who wants to be objective?

Hi Jason,

Historically, the superdelegates were created to ensure two things: 1) that an extreme far left candidate was not representing the Democratic party in the general election and 2) that the nominee has a good chance in defeating its Republican Rivals or which ever rival he or she faces in the general election. I believe strongly that we should allow both candidates competing for the Democratic nomination to go head to head at the Democratic nomination. The reason for this is simple; it will ensure that a plurality of ideas are recognized and adopted by the declared winner. It is self-evident that the Democratic nominee will automatically have the support of its party, however, it is not guaranteed that the candidate will express all of the viewpoints of the Democratic party at large. The Democratic convention will certainly ensure this!

Jason, The only thing I took away from your lengthy write up here is that you just want a clear winner. I saw nothing that said WHY you support Obama. You know, like ISSUES, I guess I did hear a reunite in there somewhere. Bottom line Jason is that Obama has had the entire campaign to demonstrate some original ideas and there have been NONE ! Only rehashed versions of other people all the way from Hillary to MLK ! The Party will be split if Obama becomes the Nominee unless Florida & Michigan are considered in this process in which case he may not be the winner. The very word Democrat came from the word Democracy which is what this Country and Party was built upon. If Voters in Michigan & Florida are not counted, then the Democratic Party is going against evrything it stands for. The result will be a flood of mainstream Democrats bailing out of the “Young Democrat” Party and going conservative. You weren’t alive in during the last recession in this Country and have no clue how bad things can get - We simply cannot afford a rookie right now, maybe in 2012.

Half of me tells the superdelegates to vote for who their heart desires, and the other half tells me to look at the big picture and vote for the one who has the more pledged delegates so we can work on uniting as a party as soon as possible. I’ve supported Clinton all this time, but I don’t think we can go wrong with either one. Instead of seeing them attack each other, I would rather see both of them, as a united party, challenge McCain.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

So If your logic is to be accepted, the Democratic nominee is decided before most states are allowed to hold their primaries? I feel that the continuation of this race is REAL DEMOCRACY at work. In the past states, like Iowa and New Hampshire have held this elite political snobbery and decided the race for everyone before all of the other states held real and meaningful primaries (not just validating IA and NH).
The current system of allowing some states to think they are the TRUE test and that they know best for the country shouldn’t be allowed to continue. Voters in states like Pennsylvania should have their votes truely MEAN something. Like they will in THIS party nomination cycle. AND RIGHTFULLY, super or automatic delegates should probably hold their decission until ALL of the primaries have been held. THAT is about the only FAIR solution to all of this silliness. THAT or a complete overhaul of the entire political election system and we as a nation hold ONE National Primary. But that wouldn’t be good for TV news ratings so….I guess the voters in the late states should just keep getting shafted. RIGHT Jason?

I hope along with other much needed changes in election procedure here in the United States the the Democratic Party would rid themselves of Super Delegates. Bottom line is they just are not fair for John Q. Public. Do they hinder or help? Go figure!!
Independant from Iowa/ Go Obama

I hope that the super delegates will follow the very reason for which they were created and that is not to simply vote for a candidate that feels good or can give a good speech but the one that has the best chance of winning and who has shown to have the experience to lead this nation.

In my opinion only Hillary Clinton fits that bill. If one eliminates the states that Obama has won that will not vote for any Democrat this race is at least tied and probably has Clinton in the lead.

I keep wondering why people are not looking at the FACTS they can see…

Barak is running his campaign, he is consistent, he is NOT dealing in inuendo and rumour.

Anybody who believes Hillary is running her campaign, making the decisions, choosing the direction is either kidding themselves of just blind. She s inconsistent, and desperately hoping inuendo and rumour will somehow help her in “HER”???? campaign.

what’s the problem here? Is anyone oher than Obama, really interested in a contest based upon substance and fact.

Finally, a non-bashing blog. Thank you.

I agree with Jeff S. above. I would just add that Gov. Richardson made a great point today, that the party should rally around the candidate who has the most delegates after March 4th. It’s a sad day when we have Rush Limbaugh encouraging Republicans to infiltrate our voting process to keep Hillary in the race to continue Democratic infighting.

We need to win in November. Democrats have an unprecedented momentum, and the superdelegates are uniquely positioned to avert potential party disasters.

We are counting on all of you to do the right thing. We will.

I’m concerned that this race is not over and there is so much influence and arm twisting to get these superdelegates to jump ship. This campaign is so close that it offensive that the Obama supporters and pundits are trying to force Hillary to bow out. I didn’t see John McCain tellling Huckabee to get out. Let the democratic process proceed because we are now finding out more about Obama and it would be unfair if the voters made their decision too quickly without further scrutiny and the Democrats lost in November.

As far as I am concerned super delegates are much like hanging chads.
I am very concerned if the final decision is left to the super delegates and they decide to choose the candidate that did not get the majority of the popular vote, many of our young voters will probably never vote again. For years young people did not vote because the did not feel their vote really counted, the super delegates have an opportunity to reinforce this train of thought. So listen up super delegates, there is much more at stake than just selecting a candidate, your decision could very well cause flashbacks to the 60’s when disinfranchised youth burned their draft cards, the difference will be now they will be burning their voter registration cards.

Jason, thank you for supporting Obama. I think you made a wise choice. I am concerned with the direction the campaign has taken the past few days though. Just when you think it couldn’t get any nastier, it does. My hope is that Obama wins Texas and or Ohio tomorrow, and the self destructing behavior of the Democratic party will cease and desist immediately. The longer this ugly campaign goes, the better chance John McCain has to win the general election. Hillary has got to get out, and only a strong performance by Obama will convince her to do so.

I am also concerned that we will lose the General election to the Republican if Hillary will get the nomination this Nov. I like Hillary to be a Senator. Her personality is not good to be President of USA. But she was a great frist lady of USA.

I think the so called superdelagate is just to steal from the people

Every vote should be counted. What is the point in any of us going to the polls and giving our vote if it doesn’t count for crap. If Obama won b/c every vote was counted then so be it, however instead we are going by the vote of men stuffed in suits, that would rather see a fake in office than a woman.