Super Delegates

[TimPlo]

I was not here at start of the primaries but I read on twitter back in begin that many people who I assumed supported Clinton where arguing at one time that Super Delegates vote as the see fit. This was centered around Howard Dean because he was going against will of people in supporting Clinton. The state he is a SD for Vermont voted overwhelming for Sanders. Now on here I read all HRC people saying that SD should vote how people voted. What has changed or has it always been on here HRC supporters think SD should vote as people of there states vote?

[pat_k]

1. Predicting what superdelegates might do vs. saying what they should do.

It seems to me when the question comes up, it's usually more a question of what the superdelegates are likely to do, with the majority of people expressing the opinion that they are likely to go with the leader in pledged delegates.

Even Sanders agrees on that:

"I think it is probably the case that the candidate who has the most pledged delegates is going to be the candidate, but there are other factors. And the other factors will be the strength of each of us in taking on the Republican candidate...."

The folks I take issue with are those who declare that the superdelegates "must" or "should" always vote for the candidate who's ahead in pledged delegates. That's a ridiculous position. Why do you think the Democratic Party decided to add superdelegates? They had "buyer's regret" about Carter and decided to add superdelegates so they had "people who know better" in place to overrule when they believe the voters have made a losing choice.

I don't think we should have superdelegates at all. But if you accept that we DO have them, you have to accept what their role is, and let go of the silly notion that they "should always" vote for the pledged delegate leader. That is simply not what they are there for.