Enlighten me please: Super Duper deligates...

[southernleftylady]

Why do we have them and how can we change that system? And who thought that was a good option?

[sfam]

1. This happened as a reaction to 1972...we didn't want another blow-out

Because the "voters" picked a candidate with no chance of winning (McGovern), the party luminaries went about changing the rules to put a stop-gap in place.

Bottom line, the Super-Delegates are there to rescue us if we "Fuck it up".

[papau]

2. Sort of back-wards - the 68 convention had over 50% of delegates chosen 2 years before - the primary

caucus system was put in (encouraged) to give us a more democratic convention.

Those doing the reform felt that elder statesmen being part of the mix, albeit at a very low percentage compared to 68, was a good thing.

[mohc]

3. I do not see why we can not just convert them..

...into pledged PLEO delegates. Currently there are basically 4 types of delegates for each state in the Democratic primaries: Pledged District, Pledged At-Large, Pledged PLEO, and Unpledged "Superdelegates". As their names imply the Pledged District and At-Large delegates are selected based on the proportion of votes candidates receive at a district level and state-wide respectively. Pledged PLEO (Party Leaders and Elected Officials) are allocated exactly like At-Large delegates. Superdelegates are also PLEO, but not pledged to a candidate. Pledged PLEO tend to be mayors or state legislators, as the criteria for being a Superdelegate is being one of: DNC member, Federal office (President, VP, Senator, House Rep), Governor, or certain former party leaders (former Pres, VP, DNC chairman, etc.). I think we would be better served with only having pledged PLEOs.