Superdelegates be Convinced to Support Bernie Sanders? Unlikely, But Not Impossible

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/05/19/can-superdelegates-be-convinced-support-bernie-sanders-unlikely-not-impossible

Sanders voters are often accused of thinking that just because our candidate says something should be done that it will be done once he's elected, as if there were no real-world obstacles to a Medicare-for-all plan, a $15-an-hour national minimum wage, tuition-free public higher education or any of the other ideas we’re promoting. But we think nothing of the kind. We do however believe that if we elect a president who doesn’t say — or think — these things should happen, they never will happen.

In Philadelphia we will start with an electability argument. Poll after poll has shown Sanders faring better against Donald Trump than Clinton does, particularly among independent voters.

More importantly, we will argue that the Sanders approach represents the way forward for the party and the country. The central divide in the race among Democrats has been whether the political realities of Washington or the material needs of the nation and the world should prevail. The Clinton campaign contends that it is the former: If the congressional votes aren’t there for big changes, we have no choice but to pare back our program to smaller increments. Sanders supporters, on the other hand, argue that the need to address major problems such as income inequality and climate change means that the preferences and customs of the nation’s capital must yield to the demands of reality. We need a sea change, a paradigm shift. We need a political revolution.

[bjo59]

1. Well, I was pretty certain that the superdelegates would never flip because no corporatist could

be expected to do anything that might put an anti-corporate person in the White House. However, tonight I did start entertaining the thought that there is a possibility (slim but there) that this could happen. Superdelegates are people and, thus, have egos. Hillary Clinton gets less popular the more time passes. If she's really limping by the time she gets to the convention and if polls show Trump to have pulled way ahead of her (and also show Bernie comfortably ahead of Trump), I could imagine at least the superdelegates that strongly identify as Democrats might not want to step in and hand her the nomination if it looks as if she's likely to lose the general election. I would imagine that there are a significant number of superdelegates who really wouldn't want to be perceived as sacrificing a Democratic presidency in favor of other interests.

[deepestblue]

2. Neither candidate will enter the convention with enough delegates to clinch the nom

...Despite what the "media" may (will) say.

A President Sanders is Likely and Possible.

[SmittynMo]

3. Super delegates and the primaries

The entire process shows signs of corruption and must be revised.

How does a super delegate vote before the state vote is taken? Why is it even allowed?

Rules for states are not the same. Why are some states "caucuses", and others are not? The voting process must remain the same for all states.

Why does it take so long for the voting process to complete?

Favoritism is questionable in all the examples above.

The whole "Primary" election season needs serious review and revision. But you watch. Nothing will be done.