Democratic Hopefuls Woo Superdelegates

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

Democratic Hopefuls Woo Superdelegates
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May 28, 5:34 AM (ET)

By BETH FOUHY

NEW YORK (AP) - It's more than half a year - and a few snowstorms - until the first votes in Iowa, yet Democratic presidential hopefuls have already captured some of the delegates critical to winning the nomination. Not just any delegates - "superdelegates," the party's top echelon of elected officials who can back a candidate at any time no matter what the calendar, caucus-goer or primary voter says. Candidates have been pursuing endorsements from Democratic governors and members of Congress, knowing these individuals will have a direct say in choosing the party's nominee.

The 235 Democratic House members and nonvoting representatives, 49 senators, the District of Columbia's two "shadow senators" and 28 governors total 314 - about 14 percent of the 2,182 delegates a candidate will need to secure the party's presidential nomination at next year's national convention in Denver.

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, the Democratic front-runners, have established sophisticated "whip" operations to woo undecided colleagues. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has engaged the talents of his campaign manager, a former House Democratic whip, to court the uncommitted.


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a breakfast meeting with potential supporters, Saturday, May 26, 2007, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

With eight months to go before voters begin choosing delegates through the primary process, many Democrats view the early accumulation of superdelegates as savvy planning for the future. Unfortunately for the presidential hopefuls, superdelegates can be fair-weather allies who aren't formally bound to any particular candidate and can shift their loyalties at will.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070528/D8PDA4Q00.html