Something weird is going on with the Delegates....

[johnny51981]

At least on CNN.com. What is the deal with this???

I'm a total nerd and have an Excel tracking sheet that shows the counts of delegates and states won for those running on both sides.

Both Hillary and Obama have lost committed delegates. How can that be? I've also got to point out that the totals listed on CNN for each of the candidates don't actually equal the sum of all of the states.

Can Committed delegates be De-commited?

[CGP]

At least on CNN.com. What is the deal with this???

I'm a total nerd and have an Excel tracking sheet that shows the counts of delegates and states won for those running on both sides.

Both Hillary and Obama have lost committed delegates. How can that be? I've also got to point out that the totals listed on CNN for each of the candidates don't actually equal the sum of all of the states.

Can Committed delegates be De-commited?

All of these different news sites have differen totals. It's difficult to know what's going on. I don't think delegates can be taken away - pledged delegates that is. But superdelegates are subject to change/variation.

[johnny51981]

Well, now my tracking sheet has gone to pot. LOL

[BloodDAnna]

I'm too sickened to research this but I caught the tail end of something on the news saying that all the delegates for my state were going to be handed over to Obama since he won the majority. Can't say I remember that happening in Washington state before.

[CGP]

I'm too sickened to research this but I caught the tail end of something on the news saying that all the delegates for my state were going to be handed over to Obama since he won the majority. Can't say I remember that happening in Washington state before.

I don't think this is going to happen. The pledged delegates earned proportionately in each state according to votes received will stay with each candidate. I did hear that, technically speaking, even pledged delegates can cross camps but it doesn't usually happen.

Superdelegates on the other hand can vote for whoever, for whatever reason they chose.

[skc1976]

I would be very disappointed in Washington State if they sent all of their delegates to one candidate. As I recall, none of the democratic primaries or caucuses are winner take all like the GOP's are.

[johnny51981]

Yeah, none of them have been thus far.

[Morgan]

I've noticed changing of delegate amounts here in CA. It is totally confusing what they have done. Some districts unless the winner got at least 65% of the vote, they are splitting the delegates 50/50. If Hillary got 64% of the vote she would only get half the votes. If Edwards was still in she would get 33%.

I'd like to know what districts and when they changed the rules.

[Christines]

We are going to have to keep tabs on this because we don't want them to
Bamboozle us!

[Patsy]

There are also some Congressional Districts from a variety of States that have not actually been awarded yet... because their Districts were split, etc. So the actual delegate count is changing for them both.

[Annie]

I am curious what the rules are - if Obama gets the delegate amount needed before the conference is it a done deal? And if something comes out and it is patently obvious he can't win and could end up in serious legal trouble - what happens then? Would Hillary then get the nomination or would Obama's running mate (whoever it is) get it?

Anybody know?

Also I have asked this before and no response but do the Texas Caucus count along with the primary votes?

[Ohio mom]

Great question wish I could help ya...there are so many questions I have as well, but no answers to!!! I only pray we don't have to worry about such a scary scenario!!!

[EngCindy]

Isn't it true that the super delegates can change their minds, right up to the Convention.

So, if Obama implodes, the whole 795 could throw it to Hillary, right ?

Jayling probably knows more.....

How could a running mate, that hasn't campaigned, get the nomination ?
The 795 supers couldn't give it to them, so the other delegates would have to ?

[Annie]

Isn't it true that the super delegates can change their minds, right up to the Convention.

So, if Obama implodes, the whole 795 could throw it to Hillary, right ?

Jayling probably knows more.....

How could a running mate, that hasn't campaigned, get the nomination ?
The 795 supers couldn't give it to them, so the other delegates would have to ?

Yes the super can throw it right up to the convention. But even Terry McAuliffe said it will be decided by June 30th. That is before the convention. I am hoping he means Hillary is a sure thing for the nomination. But I guess what I am really wondering is if BO wins the nomination whether at the convention or not, and picks is VP and then starts running against McCain and 'stuff happens' what then? Does Hill then take over with that vp or a different one or not? Then even worse if Bo has the nomination and wins the Presidency and again 'stuff happens' quickly his vp will then become President. Now that is something we should all think about...

Dean did say that the DNC are picking the vp for the person nominated a month or so ago.

[johnsnakecusak]

I'm reading with interest the details of delegate apportionment outlined here. It's confusing at best.
And just underscores the need for the Democratic Party to change much in the primary process rules. The "winner take all" concept ensures much more delineated results and does away with all the complicated (and easy maneuvered) formulas for delegate apportionment.

The caucus system should be done away with completely. It is inherently elitist, putting the decision in the hands of those who are insiders, basically.

And whatever system in the party allowed Howard Dean to make a stupid proclamation about the delegates in Florida not being seated, (playing directly into the hands of the Republicans) should be changed, because another Howard Dean could make the same bone-headed decision in a future primary.

Hopefully, in the next primary season, we can be prepared, so that we are not going to be trying to guess how our delegates are going to be apportioned.

[nette60]

This is insane. Especially since I heard that Obama had paid more than 800 illegal voters from other states or out of areas to caucus in each caucus state sometimes signing in twice.....He is a lunatic like his pastor. They will stop at nothing to bring down the Democratic party. he should be so embarrassed now that he should try to drop out with some sort of dignity...But he doesn't have any does he.

[Bad Kitty]

This is insane. Especially since I heard that Obama had paid more than 800 illegal voters from other states or out of areas to caucus in each caucus state sometimes signing in twice.....He is a lunatic like his pastor. They will stop at nothing to bring down the Democratic party. he should be so embarrassed now that he should try to drop out with some sort of dignity...But he doesn't have any does he.

Nope..not in his middle finger or sprinkled on his waffles. :D

[Musicdude]

Someone posted an article a couple of weeks ago, where one or two SD's publicly and emphatically stated they were waiting until the Convention no matter what Dean said. So how does Dean make these claims for a June decision? No one is bound to it, if they did. Plus what kind of pressure could possibly be applied to SD's to make an endorsement at the will of the DNC and not by their own will. I don't get it. :confused:

A June decision by remaining SD's is only tentative. So it appears if there is a tentative decision, the tentative-nominee begins a general election campaign while the other nominee....does what exactly?

If the Tentative nominee was Obama, and starts campaigning in the general election sense, then what does Hillary do til the convention? :confused:

[B positive]

one more thing.... some SuperDels haven't been appointed yet. I'm not sure of the lingo nor the reasoning but I see on the superdel tracker:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/primaries/superdelegates/search.php
that there are "vacant" "unassigned" "add-on" positions in many states.

Ya know, in late 2000 the DNC said it would amend the constitution to give popular vote the Presidential win over the Electoral College... haven't heard a thing since. Hopefully the DNC will change the primary recipe after this cycle passes.

[Bad Kitty]

In my opinion this is and has to go all the way to the convention. Nobody fairly wins if it doesn't and both sides will be upset. The only thing that could shake it up is if the opponent's shady life finally catches up to him and he bows out and let's Hillary wipe the floor with McCain.

[Patsy]

THERE IS NO NOMINEE UNTIL THE DELEGATES HAVE VOTED AT THE CONVENTION. BOTH PLEDGED AND SUPERS. UNLESS SOMEONE DROPS OUT.


Technically there is no such thing as a committed delegate either. They are free to vote as they wish, but that rarely happens until it gets to the second ballot.

HRC is not dropping out, thus no nominee until Denver or BO drops out.

The idea is for Howard Dean to get the Supers to commit before Denver to force someone to quit. HRC won't BO might.

Nothing requires them to and HRC will take FL and MI to the Credentials Committee at Denver. If FL and MI are included, HRC is ahead in pop vote and barely behind in delegates.

[BloodDAnna]

What I have learned by being a delegate is that everytime we have a caucus, county and/or state convention delegates can change teams all the way up until the convention in August. This is why it is SO important to look at your local county & state Democrat site and see if there are any conventions or caucuses coming up for your state that you can go and show your support for Hillary.

SD, they can wait till the convention to endorse a candidate and I believe they can flip flop all the way till the end as well.

[Jayling]

http://www.diversityj.com/images/ModHat.jpg
similar topics...

[shadow]

Obama, and starts campaigning in the general election sense

OB has already been doing just that. I have seen a few ads online where he talks about his campaign against Mccain, as if this were already decided.

I am not positive, but I think the whole point to having superdelegates is a situation like this. Neither one has enough delegates after all the primaries, so, (if Dean would shut up) it goes to the convention, both candidates make their best case, and the vote is done. If there still is no clear winner, the supers make the decision, based on who they feel is best. That is how I understood it.

[Musicdude]

THERE IS NO NOMINEE UNTIL THE DELEGATES HAVE VOTED AT THE CONVENTION. BOTH PLEDGED AND SUPERS. UNLESS SOMEONE DROPS OUT.


Technically there is no such thing as a committed delegate either. They are free to vote as they wish, but that rarely happens until it gets to the second ballot.

HRC is not dropping out, thus no nominee until Denver or BO drops out.

The idea is for Howard Dean to get the Supers to commit before Denver to force someone to quit. HRC won't BO might.

Nothing requires them to and HRC will take FL and MI to the Credentials Committee at Denver. If FL and MI are included, HRC is ahead in pop vote and barely behind in delegates.

Thanks for the explanation, or re-explanation. I don't know the ins and outs of certain details about how all that works. It just seems strange that Dean is setting himself up to look rather ignorant, while attempting to shift blame-for-delays to the SD's in some way via the media.

Can Hillary start a general election campaign in terms of strategy and appearances starting in June during that 11 week gap til the convention?

[Morgan]

[QUOTE=shadow;75616]OB has already been doing just that. I have seen a few ads online where he talks about his campaign against Mccain, as if this were already decided.

[QUOTE]


He reminds me of Bush being so certain he won the election, before all the votes were counted. It gives me a really bad feeling.

[NewHamster]

No, absolutely nothing is definite until the convention, no matter what the delegate count is. Even John McCain isn't definite. What if it suddenly comes out that he eats babies or something;)? So even if Howard Dean arm-wrestles the SD's to "declare" in June, they could change at the convention if they wanted to.