Obama looks locked in but remaining superdelegates crucial to securing Democratic nomination
By Matthew B. Zeidman
WASHINGTON (Hollywood Today) 5/11/08 – The fight to be the Democratic presidential candidate raged on over the weekend. According to most major political polling sources, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama pulled ahead of rival Hillary Clinton in committed superdelegates Saturday, gaining five new party supporters to the former first lady’s one.
Clinton has not gone back on her promise to keep campaigning until a nominee is declared, however, and with more than 200 superdelegates still keeping silent, it seems ever more likely that unofficial Republican nominee John McCain will have to wait until August to find out who his opponent will be.
Kevin Rodriguez, a Democratic representative from the U.S. Virgin Islands, was one of Saturday’s five new Obama supporters, joining several recent Clinton-to-Obama defections. Meanwhile, Clinton’s campaign announced the support of Arthur Powell, who had just been elected by the Massachusetts State Democratic Committee as one of its representatives to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
According to AP estimates, the new data puts Obama at 1,863.5 delegates in total, including pledged primary delegates, and Clinton weighs in at 1,697. Once all votes are cast at the convention, which will be held Aug. 25-28 in Denver, the candidate meeting or exceeding 2,025 will be named the official Democratic candidate for president.
Though six Democratic primaries between May 13 and June 3 will determine 274 delegate votes in total, neither candidate is expected to win the remaining contests by large enough margins to claim victory before the convention, making the support of the undecided superdelegates crucial.
Superdelegates are prominent party members who are not bound by primary results to vote for a particular candidate. One of Clinton’s most important strengths earlier in the year was her approximate 100-superdelegate lead, but gradual gains by Obama have left him leading by 3.5 superdelegates (275 to 271.5, according to AP).
Though some Democrats have criticized Clinton for not conceding the election despite Obama’s lead, supporters have cited her popularity in Florida and Michigan, whose primary results were voided and delegates stripped of their votes by the Democratic National Committee as punishment for shifting their contests’ dates to January without permission.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Obama Fan // May 11, 2008 at 6:07 am
The race is finish. Please give Hillary room to exit.
2 Gais Child // May 11, 2008 at 6:34 am
There is no way anyone can or will or would “force” Clinton out of the race. It’s clear now to observers she’s got lawyers lined up to “force” the Florida Michigan snafu and to “force” the convention and the “force” the nomination. In doing so, she and the former president have insulted and offended their own best previous supporters. As she slices up the electorates into different colors, ages, genders, or education levels, she diminishes her own returns. She’s pushing the river with everything she’s got and it’s a display of the old politics and a challenge to the new. One wonders whether the remaining delegates and superdelegates who are “with” her are actually afraid for their future in front of the Clinton bulldozer, or whether they are keeping a promise made two or more years ago, or whether they are making a statement for color and or gender. One wonders because once upon a time I too thought she had promise and greatness. But now I feel she has been corrupted by ambition and greed for power beyond all recognition. Could happen to any of us with enough applause, money and flattery. Sad it is. Not inspiring. The heart cringes for her. Something in her needs help and she’s not listening. She’s got lawyers.
3 Paul // May 11, 2008 at 7:38 am
I agree the race for nominee is over. If Hillary wants the VP slot, she needs to start conciliation and stop the aggravation. Even then it might be too late. There are other candidates.
4 yusuf dangana // May 11, 2008 at 9:33 am
obama is the right candidates. clinton should stepped down and support obama
5 warren // May 12, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Why is there so much confusion over Michigan and Florida? Hilary never contended that those votes should be counted until it was clear that she needed them. So who is she really looking out for?
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