Superdelegates likely to boost Clinton (FT)

[katty]

more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22560061/

Superdelegates likely to boost Clinton


By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in New Hampshire (FT.com)
updated 7:14 p.m. PT, Wed., Jan. 9, 2008

Hillary Clinton's win in New Hampshire will give her campaign a much needed boost against Barack Obama in the forthcoming races in Nevada and South Carolina.

Mrs Clinton enjoys a comfortable lead over Mr Obama, the Illinois senator, because of the overwhelming support she has received from so-called superdelegates of the Democratic party.

These are hundreds of Democratic party insiders, including members of Congress, governors and former presidents, who represent the party es­tablishment and can cast independent votes at the Demo­cratic convention in August, re­gardless of primary results.

[Kittycat]

1. "who represent the party es­tablishment" n/t

[katty]

2. yup

[SteppingRazor]

3. Meh.

Final three graphs of that story:

After all, the super-delegates do not vote until the convention and their endorsements do not necessarily translate into actual votes.

Citing Dick Tuck, who famously in 1964 ceded his defeat in a California state primary by saying "the people have spoken, the bastards", one Democrat who is active in Washington said relying on superdelegates to win a nomination was a "losers' mantra".

"Superdelegates are like Claude Rains in the movie Casablanca. They will go whichever way the wind blows, and the wind is blowing Obama. Unless he has a meltdown I think it's over."


The superdelegates will go with whoever is winning.

[katty]

4. thanks for clarification

[Tweety]

5. What the heck is a superdelegate?

:shrug:
.