what's a superdelegate?

Category: Girlawhirl : Entertainment

Apr 8, 2008

With the National Conventions closing in and the tight race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to be the Democratic presidential nominee, Girlawhirl can't help but soak up the excitement. And with such a hotly contested race, it could come down to the very end before she knows whether it will be Clinton or Obama running against John McCain for the Oval Office. Why so late in the game? Because the final decision will most likely be left up to the party's "superdelegates." Girlawhirl -- who never took a poly-sci class in college -- needed a little tutorial on the term. Exactly what are superdelegates? And why do their voices weigh so heavily...

Unlike regular pledged party delegates that nominate their candidate based on the popular primary or caucus voting results, the nearly 800 superdelegates at the Democratic Convention are “unpledged” and choose their candidate based solely on personal preference. The superdelegates themselves are appointed to those positions, not elected. The group consists of all former Democratic presidents, vice presidents, majority and minority leaders as well as current Democratic Governors and Congressmen. Still others are chosen by party leaders during the primary season.

What makes the superdelegates votes so valuable in the 2008 Presidential race is the neck-and-neck race between Clinton and Obama. Their say will decide who becomes the official Democratic Party Presidential Candidate.

So no matter which way they tide turns, Girlawhirl's got a close eye on the superdelegates, because for her, there's nothing quite like watching history in the making.

Click here for an up to date tracker of superdelegate votes.