By Political Guard Staff
How Superdelegates are Killing Democratic Nomination Legitimacy
Introduction: Presidential Primaries
Superdelegates
The Democratic and Republican parties both have superdelegates. For the sake of this article, only Democratic superdelegates and primaries will be discussed. Even though rules for both are similar across parties.
In each state primary candidates are awarded delegates based on the percentage of the popular vote they received in that state. These delegates are pledged delegates. Those delegates are committed to voting for the candidate they are assigned when the nomination voting begins in the Democratic National Convention.
However, a superdelegate us not bound to one particular candidate although they can state their support for a particular candidate. However, regardless of a superdelegates' personal or projected support they can change allegiances at anytime. This change could happen even at the convention. To put it simply, superdelegates can vote for whoever they wish at the Democratic National Convention. The previous fact is the idea to focus on here. These are powerful individuals not bound by the vote or will of the people.
Who are the Superdelegates?
Democratic superdelegates are party insiders which include former or current Democratic politicians including presidents, senators, representatives, and Democratic party leaders. In each state primary candidates are awarded delegates based on the percentage of the popular vote they received in that state. These delegates are pledged delegates. Those delegates are committed to voting for the candidate they are assigned when the nomination voting begins in the Democratic National Convention.
However, a superdelegate us not bound to one particular candidate although they can state their support for a particular candidate. However, regardless of a superdelegates' personal or projected support they can change allegiances at anytime. This change could happen even at the convention. To put it simply, superdelegates can vote for whoever they wish at the Democratic National Convention. The previous fact is the idea to focus on here. These are powerful individuals not bound by the vote or will of the people.
Who are the Superdelegates?
Killing Democratic Party Legitimacy
What is a legitimate election? An election that is decided by those that vote in that election. What makes an election illegitimate? The false appearance of voter relevancy and/or powerful individuals attempting to have a disportionate amount of control over an election. In terms of campaign finance the second point is already a major issue for American elections.
However, superdelegates contribute to this lack of legitimacy in the Democratic party. Ask the Bernie Sanders campaign. Since the beginning of primary season the Sanders' presidential campaign has been trailing behind Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Secretary Clinton, her staff, and he supports deserve a great deal of credit for the campaign they have run and the amount of support they have mustered. In terms of dollars and votes.
That being said there is something to be said about the influence of superdelegates. When you look at the numbers of just pledged delegates Senator Sanders is behind Secretary Clinton. But not by that much. However when you look at all delegates-including superdelegates-Senator Sanders is a great deal behind Secretary Clinton. This fact has been true pretty much throughout the race.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the DNC, has insisted that the party’s nomination will not be decided by superdelegates. What she means is that by the end of the race, the nominee will have won because they had enough pledged delegates, making superdelegates irrelevant.
However, this superdelegate irrelevancy should not be believed entirely. Even if` what Representative Schultz claims is true. Think about it. Secretary Clinton’s delegate supremacy hinges greatly on the amount of superdelegates she has accumulated. The current delegate count-as of 4/22/2016-has the pledged delegate deficit between Sanders and Clinton at around 275 delegates. Sizable, but manageable. However in terms of totals the delegate deficit jumps to 739 delegates. Now it looks like Sanders has no chance of beating Clinton.
What does this all mean? It means that when people look up the delegate count they see Sanders trailing significantly behind. They see a person that cannot win. This weak appearance costs him support in terms of volunteers, donors, and votes. Therefore in the end, Sanders might not lose the nomination by the vote of a superdelegate but he would likely lose the nomination by the vote of a pledged delegate that could've been his otherwise.
However, superdelegates contribute to this lack of legitimacy in the Democratic party. Ask the Bernie Sanders campaign. Since the beginning of primary season the Sanders' presidential campaign has been trailing behind Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Secretary Clinton, her staff, and he supports deserve a great deal of credit for the campaign they have run and the amount of support they have mustered. In terms of dollars and votes.
That being said there is something to be said about the influence of superdelegates. When you look at the numbers of just pledged delegates Senator Sanders is behind Secretary Clinton. But not by that much. However when you look at all delegates-including superdelegates-Senator Sanders is a great deal behind Secretary Clinton. This fact has been true pretty much throughout the race.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the DNC, has insisted that the party’s nomination will not be decided by superdelegates. What she means is that by the end of the race, the nominee will have won because they had enough pledged delegates, making superdelegates irrelevant.
However, this superdelegate irrelevancy should not be believed entirely. Even if` what Representative Schultz claims is true. Think about it. Secretary Clinton’s delegate supremacy hinges greatly on the amount of superdelegates she has accumulated. The current delegate count-as of 4/22/2016-has the pledged delegate deficit between Sanders and Clinton at around 275 delegates. Sizable, but manageable. However in terms of totals the delegate deficit jumps to 739 delegates. Now it looks like Sanders has no chance of beating Clinton.
What does this all mean? It means that when people look up the delegate count they see Sanders trailing significantly behind. They see a person that cannot win. This weak appearance costs him support in terms of volunteers, donors, and votes. Therefore in the end, Sanders might not lose the nomination by the vote of a superdelegate but he would likely lose the nomination by the vote of a pledged delegate that could've been his otherwise.
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