To me it means that the Clinton campaign is getting concerned over not getting enough delegates from the vote count to win at the Democratic Convention outright. Considering the vote spread over the past 8 primaries, Clinton shouldn’t be the only one concerned. Obama received more votes in many states than the Republican candidates did as a whole.

Mike McKibben
Lady Lake, Fl

IT`S a QUESTION OF INTEGRETY AND ETHICS. SHE SEEM TO BE WITHOUT EITHER.

Jack, what her allies are really quesioning is the total lack of a ‘Plan’ by the campaign and Mrs. Clinton for after Super Tuesday. They went through money like water, they are not able to come up with a new message, and appear to have thought the nominee would be handed to Hillary on a platter. That’s why she is not only relying on the superdelegates, but ‘flip-flopping’ on her (and all candidates) agreement to not seat MI and FL. McCain and the GOP want her so bad they can taste it.

What does it mean if some of Hillary Clinton’s allies are now questioning her reliance on superdelegates to win? Nothing in politics happens by accident, 1, could mean they see the writing on the wall as the Obama surge rises, 2, they are leaving no stone unturned in the path of the well greases Clinton election machine, 3. they want to get Obama off message, 4. they are calling in long time markers forcing Obama to make changes, or they know they have they have them in the bag and working on plan “B & C” well ahead of Obama should they both loose super delegates. So Jack please remember in the Clinton Election Team, all may not what it seems to be.

David
Dartmouth NS

Sounds like desparation to me. You better not rely on the super delagates to get elected. I for one don’t like this super delagate way. It needs to cease. Put all the candiatates on the ballot and lets just vote the old fashion way. Who gets the most votes…..wins. End of story

Nobody should be relying on superdelegates to win anything. The american people seem to be truley repulsed by the thought of backroom deals even being considered after such a historic well fought campaign between these two titans who have inspired the passion in politics we havennt seen since the sixties. So lets see how it plays out in the next few weeks and may the best PERSON win. Groovey baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spring Valley New York

It means that the scale is tipping…Watch out Hillary!

What it means is that they think that hijacking your own party is supposed to be the exclusive realm of the Republicans. They are saying that Democrats should be more… well, democratic.

It means political arrogance is finally outrageous enough to raise the dead. Jefferson, Madison, Adams, and men who froze to death at Valley Forge are putting a chill into the conscience of Super Delegates. Enough of Supreme Court and Diebold picks, the only legitimacy of government is the consent of the governed.

Come this November whether it’s Clinton or Obama as the nominee, democratic voters will be please of having a strong candidate who can defeat McCain. However, Clinton winning the party nomination due to super delegates will definitely send the wrong message to voters since she trails Obama in pledge votes. In doing so, many voters voice will go unheard in the primary and there will be a huge decline in voters turnout at the general election.

Jack,
Not all of her allies are questioning her use of super delegates. Lanny Davis was interviewed on CNN last week and defended the use of them. He said that that was the rule and that we shouldn’t change the rule in mid stream. The interviwer didn’t ask Lanny if seating the Florida and Michigan delegates was changing the rules in mid stream.

Watch out for Hillary. She is going to act like a wild animal in the corner. She will do or say anything to win the nomination. The true Hillary will emerge and she will not care about the Democrats or the party. Mark my words she will be ruthless.

It proves that the flower of truth can even arise from the obvious cracks in the Clinton campaign/agenda. Look we know she`s losing and Bill has obviously lost it ,so, they`re going back seeking old favors from those they feel are owed to them and those superdelegates are not falling in line. Hillary says she`s ready from Day 1? God forbid, after seeing how she has run this campaign which has been her biggest undertaking in the last 35 years with the exception of raising Chelsea and Bill.

Dear Jack, I hope it means they are wising up to the people’s call back of the Clinton brand, but that might be a bit too much to ask from politicians. My guess is they realize they can’t spin this one much longer if Obama keeps winning. Love your show Jack. Kevin, Champaign, ILLINOIS

thes superdlegates are trying to keep the focus off them. from most projections it will unfortunately be up to them to choose the democratic nominee. they’re looking to dodge this bullet b/c in the end it is not going to be a good thing for the democratic party. they are hoping against hope that one of the candidates will give up and they can say they did not interfere with the elctoral process. i don’t like the idea of these superdelegates, but in the end they need to all grow a pair and do what they need to do.

Jack,

It means that her allies are not willing to destroy the Democratic party and foster a 2000 repeat where the winner of the people’s popular vote (Al Gore) somehow lost the Presidency and the Supreme Court handed the fate of this country into the hands of the biggest loser (George W.). If Obama wins the majority of pledged delegates and Hillary takes the nomination because of a few inside political boardroom execs, any halfway intelligent Democratic recognizes that the party will be perceived as a “Walking Contradiction” who are no better than their friends on the other side of the aisle. They also understand that in this election in particular, they should at least try to appear as if they truly want to place the Federal Government back in the hands of the people and take it out of the hands of corporate conglomerates, insurance companies, and our dear friend China.

Wyatt
Atlanta, Georgia

Jack
The Clinton campaign is starting to come apart, top campaign people are starting to abandon ship or take lesser roles. She is losing the delegate race and yes she has to rely on these superdelegates in order to stay in the race with any hope at all to capture the nomination. Obama is definately on a role and everytime Bill Clinton loses his temper at a campaign function Hillary falls further behind.

Winning at any cost is not the image the democrats want going into the most important election of my lifetime.I think Clinton’s allies realize that if Obama goes into the convention as the peoples choice he should walk out of the convention as their nominee.
If backroom deals are made they will lose african american and college students votes.All they’ll have left is the confused look on their faces on election night wodering how on earth that republican guy got elected.

Nothing really… None of them saying what to do. All they suggest is to calm down, wait for the outcome of the election, see the numbers, and only then start to think what to do if necessary. Superdelegates is not the only issue - remember we still do not know what will happen to Florida and Michigan delegates.

super delegates should choose whomever they think is the best qualified, not a personality with big talk & no experience like obama.

If Hillary wins the nomination by a handful of superdelegates, she will lose much support from Democrats, especially Obama loyalists, and it will cost her the general election. She has to win the remaining primaries by large margins to convince Democrats that she won fair and square; otherwise she is in a lose/lose situation even if she wins the nomination by a nose length.

It shows that her shell is beginning to crack and expose her true vulnerability. She has not been consistent in winning primaries and she now has to put her entire election in the hands of the Superdelegates. Her allies are starting to see that there may be an end in sight for the Senator, and the powers of the Superdelegates may not be able to save her afterall.

Jack, maybe they have come to the reality that Hillary and Bill will do anything to get back to the White House including destroying the best candidate that the Democratic Party has had in many years. It is sad but true that it appears that the way of politics hasn’t changed as the good old boys and girls will decide, not the people. We are not a democracy of the people, by the people or for the people, we are and have been a government of the rich, by the powerful and for the ones that know where the bodies are buried. That’s not a joke.

It means she’s in deep doo-doo Jack. Even Bush Sr. said in his endorsement for John McCain that he was one of the last to know when his presidential bid was over. Someone from outside the campaign will have to give her a wake up call if she loses. They can’t let her destroy the party.

Tom
Ithaca, New York

It means that they’re starting to question her ethics and motives on a whole. First she was relying on her Super-Duper Delegate husband to get her through, and that didn’t work. Now she wants her Super-Friends to put her through. It’s time to put the Clinton Mobile in park.

What is means is that the mainstream democrats are beginning to open their eyes to the kind of person Hillary Clinton is. She’s someone who will fight to the death for a nomination, even if it’s not the will of the real people. Doesn’t that remind us of another past President with the mix up in Florida? The more Hillary fights, argues, and cheats against Obama, the more her allies will begin to distance themselves from her. She’s headed in a downward spiral, weighted down by that personality of hers, that husband, her endeavors,of the past, and her unceasing drive for power.

She feels the nomination should be hers even if people don’t vote for her. Now that she’s the underdog it looks a lot more like an arrogant sense of entitlement than a sense of confidence.

Jack,
Perceptions being as important as reality in a campaign, allies of Hillary are afraid that eking out a nomination by superdelegates or controversial delegates from the penalized primaries in Florida and Michigan would appear to frustrate the will of the people.

Clinton’s allies fear a hemorrhaging of the diverse voters who have turned out in record numbers, mostly for Obama. Winning by superdelegates or controversial delegates would be a Pyrrhic victory for Clinton. Winning a nomination at the cost of losing the election to the Republicans should make Hillary think twice about playing an inside game,

I think it would be best for the Democratic party if it never comes to needing these votes, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. That said, you cannot first agree to how things work (the rules) then, when it suits you, change your mind and claim it’s all about “fairness”… this applies to Super-Delegates changing their minds as well as the debacle in Florida and Michigan…

I have to hope that she has the wisdom to avoid duking it out at the convention… if she does, and it turns out that it causes whomever is nominated to lose in the actual election… her career is OVER. period.

Surely Clinton can see the handwriting on the wall should she lose in Wisconsin and in even one of the big states…

This is proof that Hillary is not who she says she is. She cares more about securing her spot in history than she does the American people. A democracy is supposed to be about the people, and they should be the ones who decide their leaders. The best option for Hillary would be to step aside, apologize, and support Barack, because that’s who we’ve chosen. It would help to redeem her reputation, carry her into 2012 or 2016, and best of all unite the people, which is what we really need right now.

Jack, it means she wants to win. Daaa!
As you know superdelegates are free to vote as they please, so not seeking their support would be rather idiotic. And please, spare us the, “what the voters want rethoric”. It is impossible to know who the majority of democrats want for a candidate, considering the Florida, and Michigan debacle. Not to mention a primary, and caucus system, incapable of determining a winner in a close election. So if it comes down to superdelegates, lets not complain if they proceed as allowed.

Jery Wilson

It means they are putting their careers as “career politicains” ahead of her possible career as POTUS. In other words, they are hearing from their electorates and have decided their own self perservation means more to them than she does. I guess the ole ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ is no more?

Is anyone really suprised to find the Democratic Black Caucus now suddenly on the fence about Clinton?

Their loyalties go–where their constituents go.
Does anyone think that Rangel would go down in history as one of the few influential black politicians who “did not support Obama”?

It means they don’t like what they’re hearing and seeing from Hillary and some of her other ‘insiders.’

It’s apparent to anyone with half a brain, and who has been following the campaign for a while, that Hillary, Bill, and others thought her nomination was a shoe-in BEFORE Iowa and Super Tuesday.

They had the next 8 years all figured out. Now that they see it slipping away quickly, they will do ANYTHING to get her the nomination.

It’s sad, but I’m seeing a side of Hillary I hope I never would. I once supported her.

If she were the nominee now and got the nomination because of back room deals with super delegates, I’d have to chose between not voting at all in the general election, or voting for McCain.

I couldn’t imagine having to do that.

Shame on you, Hillary.

JACK’ thats a simple question, all hell is breaking lose in the hillary camp! All of the supporters of the hillary camp are now seeing that the clock is ticking down. And when the clock strike’s ‘12′ they do not want to find themselves on the wrong side of the fence! the superdelecates that support Hillary also know that going all the way to the convention without a nominee is going to be bad for the democratic party. What is the meaning of allies? it means that your allies are only your allies when you are on the winning team!!!

Well Jack, this is politics weather we like it or not. And why do we have superdelegates if they are not going to count? The Democratic Party system to nominate a candidate is very inconsistence, they have a royal mess, people are getting very upset. This just the beggining!

The super delegate scenario reeks of the same odor as the electoral college. It appears that the super delegates could easily sway the direction of the democratic nomination. The electoral college is much the same way, where New York, California, Illinois, Ohio, Florida and Texas will choose our president for us in the fall.
Whatever happened to one person, one vote?
Of course the good news for me is that when our Indiana primary rolls around in My, my democratic vote may actually count for the first time in my voting history! Yipee!!!

Jack, i have watched this race from the start. The American people should proud of there candidates. A women and a black man, its history.
I can see now that the media and most of the men in the USA are not ready for a women president.Hillary doesnt need the superdelegates,she needs a break from the media. I say go get them Hillary!

John Fraser
Belleville, Ontario,
Canada.

I just figured it all out you know the super delegates and how the Obama supporters are all up in arms about what they will do.
First most of them , the voters, are Indenpendents voting in the Democrated primaries telling the Democrates who should be there nominee.
Second , most Obama supports are young and eat at fast food places
after all they might not even know what the word “PLAGIARISM” means.
Now, I expect that many of his supports will head to California because they been recalled suffering from Mad Cow.

It simply means that they are questioning her and her ability to win – not to mention the ethical questions of her wanting to override the popular vote.

It means the superdelegates realize this isn’t a coronation. If the people want one candidate, it doesn’t speak well of democracy if a few hundred superdelegates override that decision. Senator Clinton has run one of the worst campaigns in political history because it was based on the assumption she would be the nominee on Super Tuesday. They had no plan beyond that and it shows.

It’s not just the super delegates. She’s also relying on those disqualified delegates in Michigan and Florida. It’s the only way she can catch up and pass Obama. In a fair election he gets the edge in delegates. She needs to keep all of the delegates from Michigan and Florida. She can’t afford a revote. And she can’t afford a revolt in the super delegates.

Hillary’s reliance upon superdelegates for her win can only mean she intends to tip the hands of justice in her favor. The question is how she plans to do this and what are the ramifications for the Democrat Party.

Jack,

it means the “Supers” don’t want to get on the wrong side of “movement” like this country has never seen before. as Bob Dylan said in his song The Times They Are a-Changin’,

“your sons and your daughters
are beyond your command
your old road is
rapidly ageing
please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand”

and the young people of America are no longer going to put up with current “policics as usual” that is robbing them of their future.

IF the “Supers” rob Obama IF he has a clear elected delegate lead, Denver will look like Chicago in 1968.

Jack,
It means that even her strongest supporters are getting Obama fever and as the American people make their choice very clear it will be harder for any superdelegate to vote for their own selfish desires.

The super delegates are there to break a tie. Surely you are not suggesting they aren’t up to the task? If the Democrats don’t want to follow that rule, then go ahead and break the other rule and seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida.

p.s. we see what happened last time someone overrode the popular vote.

If the superdelegates override the final popular vote, I will not vote for either democrat in the general election.

If you abuse your political power against the will of the people, don’t expect their support.

JACK! , Obama has paid more money to superdelegates than Hillary. Hillary won Florida & Michigan because Obama chose to remove his name from the ballots. She also, won most of the big states. It is impossible to know which candidate is the winner. If the superdelegates pick Hillary for president, that would be super. Hillary is the “MAKE IT HAPPEN” candidate.

It’s politics as usual for the Clinton’s. They are not interested in the Party only in getting the nomination. They are running scared and want whatever they want including seating Michigan and Florida delegates. Now if Obama needed those delegates, do you really think Clinton would roll over and say “Sure”! Obama is what is good for Democrats and can beat McCain. Hillary continues to have too much baggage and this super delegate thing only shows just how much she doesn’t care what the ‘people’ want.
Donna
Wisconsin

Though I don’t believe Hillary is breaking the rules, I think her stance on this issue brings into question her character and ability to lead.

These people are super delegates so that they can attend the party convention and have a vote on issues. They should all vote for the individual that receives the most votes in the primaries. However, we know that the Clintons will do anything to achieve what she has had as her goal for many years. If the superdelegates determine the race, many first time primary voters will stay home or vote Republican.

It’s quite obvious that her message is being channeled towards the superdelegates now, rather than the issues. This has all the presursers of a sinking ship, Jack! Her messages have been lame, and now that Obama’s has got her,” M.O.” down from past debates, she lost her edge! Texas, Penn. and Ohio, if she sweeps, should’t be overwhelming, with a 60%/40% Split. Chelsea is in Hawai for one reason , that is to get the Asian vote,i.e. California’s huge Asian population, and it’ close proxmitity. Finally, her reliance on superdelegates, simply ain’t gonna work, the public is to well informed!!! Earl from Provincetown,Mass.

Jack,

It means that Hillary is on the ropes and unlike Mohammad Ali, she is without the vigor required to rope-a-dope for 10 rounds. As more time passes, it becomes clear the her quest for the nomination is more about power than it is about furthering the standings of the democratic party. I wish she would see the light and get out before she wounds the Obama campaign and gives McCain anymore ammo to use in the general election.

-Jordan

Jack, I grew up in Baltimore. There was a cartoonist whose work appeared in the Baltimore Sun by the name of “Yardley.” His favorite footprint was to put little characters in the lower right hand corner, titled 1/8 boss, 1/4 boss, 3/8 boss, on up to 1/1 boss for the mayor or the Governor depending on the topic at hand. Hillary is going after all the bosses, little and big, in hopes that she can ride the super delegate wave to the finish. We have to remember Hillary probably knows the words of LBJ, “If you can’t beat them at the polls, get the fight into the back room, and make sure your people out number their people.” She sure doesn’t want the decision to go to the Supreme Court.

Jack,
If the nomination is given to Hillary only because of the super delagates, then you can crown McCain the winner. Because there will be plenty of voters that will not vote if that happens. Hillary does not care about the will of the people, her only concern is winning the election at all costs. The American people will need to show BIlliary that our votes don’t matter now why should they matter in November.

Because some people will do anything to get the nomination, If i were Barack, I would count the Florida Results, ask for a caucus in Michigan, beat her in popular vote, states, pledged delegates and just wait to see what trick she pulls after she still lose. Message to Edwards, as a supporter, he can’t be thinking about supporting Hillary after all of this and the people of New orleans overwhelmingly thinks Barack can help them, wouldn’t he be turning his back on those people he said he would fight for.

I am 28 years old and have voted in every election I could since I could legally vote - from local county ones to Presidential ones. In all honesty, I had never heard of a super delegate before this race.

If the will and desires of the people will be undone by a few hundred so-called political experts who are only super delegates for no other reason than that they held an office at some point - what is the point of my voting??

This will be the second Presidential election that I am eligible to vote in. I am also an Obama supporter. However, if Obama wins the most delegates, but his successful grass-roots campaign is undone by the super delegates, I really won’t believe in the Democratic party anymore.

Clinton’s reliance on super delegates to secure the nomination should speak volumns. If she can’t win without them, maybe there is a reason for that.

I will support who ever wins the delegate count, but if the Clintons think they can steal the nomination by super delegates, I think most of the public feels the same as I do. If the super delegates over turn this nomination the Democratic party will be the loser because they will lose the general election.

The Old Okie

Interesting!!!! Hillary wants the Superdelegates to decide the race because she’s behind in the popular vote, delegates, momentum, etc. One month ago, she claimed to have the popular vote and should win because more people voted for her.

As for Michigan and Florida. The rules were in place before the campaigning began. Would she still want them seated if he had won the two states? Just a question but the answer is NO. She dont even want the caucas states to count because she can’t win them.

They wont get seated, they wont count and if she cant pull off a miracle over the next 3 weeks its all a mute point anyway.

It means that they don’t understand why Super Delegates exist. Like a Republican said on a Sunday Morning show, the Super Delegates are suppose to be intelligent. They were not put there to vote the way someone tells them to vote, they are put there to make an intelligent decision based on who they, in good conscience, think should be the nominee.

How about the notion that you walked right into Obama’s trap. He started mentioning this super-delegate thing and sure enough a fire broke out. Ask Ted Kennedy and John Kerry if their gonna vote the way Mass. did. They will not give you a straight answer. This is a fair question, but only if it’s thorough. We must get reparations.

Should super delegates vote with their states, or with the popular vote, or with the delegate count? No, not necessarily. But why would anyone endorse someone for president who can’t win with voters? But even more simply, the Dems can not wait until the super delegates meet in August to pick their nominee and still expect to win the presidency. If Hillary is still behind after March 4 she needs to seriously consider dropping out and move out of the way for Obama as the defacto nominee.

I don’t think it should matter who the superdelagates favor at this point because if the nomination isn’t decided until their vote in August it won’t matter who they choose because that person will have had no chance to fight against McCain and they will lose the fight for the White House.

The whole process is flawed to begin with, IMO. All states should have voter at the polls primaries, instead of caucuses, imo. There is no way I would ever participate in a caucus, and I bet there are a lot of folks who wouldn’t. I say, as far as superdelegates go, let them duke it out, and may the best WOMAN win!

IT MEANS THEY ARE LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR AN EXCUSE TO ABANDON HILLARY WHILE SAVING FACE;

Jack, it means that Ms Hillary may not get the votes she needs to win, but is calling in those favors, for which she may not get a pay back

I just did some calculations that have me even more disgusted with the whole superdelegates and their infatuation with HRC. Of the 2080 pledged delegates awarded to date, Obama has won 1102 or 52.98%. HRC has won 985 or 47.02%. If these percentages were applied to the 395 superdelegates listed so far, Obama would have 209 superdelegates to Clinton’s 186. This would give him an overall total of 1,311 delegates and Clinton 1,171.

I know that logic will not prevail in this nomination process but it would definitely make things more equitable and less contentious if it did! Once this is all said and done, I will take a good hard look at our local superdelegates to see how they voted. If they failed to vote in line with their constituents, they deserve to be voted out of office!!!

The superdelegates are professional politicians first and foremost. This is just a warning shot over her bow that unless she backs up her campaign with some wins in a competitive election, they won’t expend their own political capital to save her. Sen. Obama so far has run a much more competitive campaign and is winning the popular vote along with more delegates. Perhaps Ms. Clinton shouldn’t ignore the little states that “don’t matter”. It does make one wonder what will her attitude be towards the little guy if she wins.

mark
upstate new york

It’s time for the Democratic Party to sit down and get it’s act together. If Hillary,or Obama for that matter, gets it at the convention based only on superdeligates and not the popular vote, then it’s time for Mike Blomberg to jump in and give everyone that doesn’t want her or McCain someone competent to vote for and beat them both.

A co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s Michigan campaign said :

“Superdelegates are not second-class delegates,” says Joel Ferguson, who will be a superdelegate if Michigan is seated. “The real second-class delegates are the delegates that are picked in red-state caucuses that are never going to vote Democratic.”

Jack, the fallacy in her argument is that it could bite couldn’t it? Besides ticking off the voters at this point what if it goes her way with the votes by a slight margin, including those New York missing Obama voters and the delegates then decide for Obama. Time to cry, for real.

Hillary clinton was under the mistaken impression that she everything tied up in the primaries. Now, with Obama proving to be a formidable opponent, she is twisting and writhing to use any and every means to win. First she agreed that the super delegates would count, now, with evidence emerging that thay are slipping away from her, she wants a knock-down contest on the convention floor. The attack bulldog hasn’t met with the success she wanted as he is flapping his lip too much, so desperation is setting in. When people like Chales Rangel begin to doubt her, she’d better look out!

Guys this is not going to happen. Obama train is going to sweep throught the rest to the states. Hillary may as well get on the train and enjoy the ride to Obama City. Super Delegates are only a mythological point of view.

Steven

Persuading the superdelegates to vote for the leader in pledged delegates is NOT changing the rules!!! It’s appealing to their sense of what makes the most sense for the Democratic party. I mean, show me the rules that are allegedly being re-written. Nice try by the Clintons.

I, on the other hand, can easily show you the rule saying that Michigan and Florida delegates don’t get seated.

I understand the Clintons’ disappointment. But that’s part of life.

Jack,
Hillary Clinton’s allies, and the democratic party superdelegates should be waiting to make up their minds until all of the primary results are in. Didn’t another news network anchor learn that lesson a couple of elections ago, by mis-calling a state before all of the precints had reported.
As I understand, superdelegates are NOT tied to any geographic locale and therefore are able to act independently of the results of where they live. Superdelegates are unlike the representative delegates which are specifically tied to the voting results within the areas they represent.
I still can’t wrap my brain arround why superdelegates exist, but in a close election, if you are a superdelegate what are you supposed to use as the scale of the “will of the people” - the results in your district, your state, or the nation. If the answer is the nation, then you better be holding your tounge and waiting until ALL of the nation has had a chance to vote.
This is a good argument for a National Primary and not perpetuating all of this ‘perceived influence’ that one state may feel they have over another. I would like to hear a candidate (from either party) say that the first thing that they will fix after being elected is our election process, primaries and general elections. That would really get votesrs excited again in this country, that thier vote would actually mean something.
As for the Democratic National Primary…if there is a mechanism (existing rule) in place at the convention for a vote by the entire delegation on the floor to decide the contested delegates such as MI and FL (actual delegates, not super delegates) why not wait for that too.

Jack its just another example of how twisted the system has become, on both sides repubs. and dems. What runnin-dumb ass thought this up? I’ll bet you it was in one of those, we’re in the back-room and no one can see or here us meetings.Lest you forget our system was modeled after the ROMANS not the GREEKS.

Jack ,it means that the American public has finally found out that the are just in it for the power.I do not really agree with Obama,but anything would be better than return to the Clinton years!

The party insiders where not elected to select the presidential nominees.

Isn’t her husband the one who keeps saying not to think past the next campaign stop whenever he’s asked who would be her running mate? Apparently they both were thinking all the way to January 21st, and forgot that they’d have to have enough money and get enough votes before writing her inauguration speech.

Her “allies” want to play both sides of the fence. If the smoke from the convention clears and the people are happy with Hillary being voted in by super delegates her friend can say I was always right behind you Hill if the people flip out and theaten to vote all the superdelegates out the first chance we get. Her friend can say I told you I didn’t like Hillary leaving the Nomination up to her superdelegate friends. Some superdelegates are lobbists? Does anybody see something wrong with that!!!

I think its a sign that they are scared that Hilary will try to steal the nomination and destroy the party by telling blacks and young voters they don’t matter. if that happens the democratic party will be destroyed. sadly, I doubt the clintons would care.

Well, let’s see. It’s very obvious that the Clintons will do anything to snatch the power. She is underestimating American people now like the way she previously underestimated Obama’s potential. She will lose once again.

How could she even think to overturn people’s choice through a bunch of super delegates and be confident to win the election this fall? I am very disappointed with her constant negative attacks on her opponent. That kind of politics must change in America.

I feel that Hillary’s camp will make the argument that superdelegates are needed to get to the 2,025 figure. I say that if this is the case then, to make it fair, simply allocate all of the superdelegates 50% to 50% between the two.

This would provide the numbers needed to meet the 2,025 mark while, at the same time, allowing the candidate with the highest number of pledged delegates to fairly win the nomination. It’s simple mathematics and is the just thing to do…

Sky

As a young person who had their first national election vote stolen by the courts in 2000, I know I’d have a hard time keeping the faith in the process if my primary vote was taken away from me as well. I think the leaders of the democratic party are starting to understand this and will not overturn the will of the people.

It means the Super Delegates are getting smart. Hillary can’t win this election. Obama has the best shot.. Obama represents the changes needed in this country.

This is a government for, of and by the people! The will and voice of the people must be heard and not the so-called “super delegates”! No more back-filled smoked- room politics. The voice of change is resinating all across America.

It seems to me the Clinton campaign is playing the same old politics that Obama is trying to get rid of. They need to eliminate the super delegates and go back to the winner take all approach, that way, the decision on who will become president is left in the hands of who it is suppose to be with, the American People.

Jack,

Lets be honest here if Hillary Clinton didn’t have the huge lead among super delagates that she has then the race would already be over. But thanks to the quick to jump on the Hillary train super delagates the peoples voice is not being heard like it should. Ever who wins the popular vote should be the winner not the so called super delagates.

Jack, if superdelegates decide the candidate say goodbye to public support for the Democratic party. It would be shameful for someone to get the nomination this way and some supporters of Mrs. Clinton acknowledge that shame.

The DNC made the rules. Michigan and Florida knew the rules and broke them anyway, now Michigan and Florida will not be seated. I’m O.K with this as I get to vote in Nov.

If the DNC flip-flops and seat Michigan and Florida…I will switch to independent. This will be a clear sign that the DNC can not be trusted.

To the best of my recollection democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people,and I bet you the superdelegates knows it.This is a clue to the Hillary team on where the pendulum is swinging ,firewall or no firewall.

Super delegates need to vote for the same member that the majority of their constituents did. To do anything else would mean the destruction of the democratic process. It will give validity to the statement used by a lot of Americans come voting time: “My vote won’t count, so why bother?” Elections shouldn’t be about the giving the insider the meal ticket because of their clout, it should be about the will of the majority. There’s nothing worse than an out-of-touch politician who believes they know what’s best for the everyday citizen….the only thing they know is how to squabble and wheel and deal with lobbyists, special interests groups, and how to bully each other for votes on the floor. That sums up what “experience” means in Washington.

Brian
Chicago

It means even some of her supporters are tired of the “old style politics” she’s trying to use. We have just gone through nearly 7 years of a president who doesn’t like to play fair. It’s just another example of how the Clintons don’t represent change.

Clinton’s dependency on super delegates is understandable as she has worked very hard for many years to get where she is. I have supported the Clinton’s for some time now and still believe Senitor Clinton would make a good president, however not at any cost!!!

If the majority of the non super delegates are won by either candidate the super delegates must respect the outcome.

If the super delegates over turn the will of the people, they do it at their peril. I would personally vote for the republicans while (holding my nose).

Dave

It means she’s scared, but it’s not over. We need an Obama /Clinton ticket this fall to unite this divided party.

It means they recognize that Hillary’s grasp on the nomination is slipping and the pressure on them is intense. For the most part they want to go with the will of the people but feel in debt to Clinton in some way and are trying to loosen her grasp on them. Chris above’s suggestions about Michigan and Florida sound like a pretty good compromise since both were on the ballot in Florida.

Jack -
It means Hillary’s latest argument is also starting to falter. Let’s review:
She thought she would have the nomination wrapped up by Super Tuesday. Once she started losing, however, she attacked caucuses as not reflecting the electorate, she attacked Obama’s wins as only being in the “red” states and small states which were “irrelevant”, she has her lawyers now looking into seating the delegates of Florida/Michigan, and she has said superdelegates should not give their votes to the candidate who has won the most states, the most delegates and the most votes. Wow.

It does not make sense if either of them looses the nominee on the grounds of the superdelegates discretion. American has been an icon of democracy but this time will witness democracy strangled and we will mourn for it for decades to come. The common man’s vote should precide all over everything else and we hope the superdelegates should follow the waves the American people are dancing with.
Abdikadir
San Diego, CA

Hillary Clinton will take any advantage she can get. If she gets nominated she’ll want the superdelegates to decide the general election if she could. It is the Clinton game, win at all costs.

Superdelegates following the will of the people? Nuts. The people are following the will of Oprah. Superdelegates should make up their own minds. This is why they have a brain, to select a candidate that can deliver and can walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

It means even her allies are getting tired of politicians not having a “plan B.”

If Hillary Clinton wants super delegates to vote against their constituents and deny millions of people all around the country the right to have their vote heard just so she can get the nomination, then she’d better not try to talk about peoples votes in Michigan and Florida not counting when she herself signed an agreement to that effect due to their violation of the rules! She always seems to be on two sides of the fence depending on self serving motives.

Jack,

Simply put, Hillary wants Obama to pack up and stop winning more states and leave like a travelling circus because she believes she’s got the last tricks. Our collective interests as people inspired for the fisrt time in the primary should not matter!

I guess the “supper” delegates will not want to end the dinner for the democratic party!

Hillary, I thought it was about who the American people want as the next President….…… I guess its true ONLY if they vote for you!!!

She has turned off many with her divisive attitude If you do not vote for Hillary, she will give the usual excuse why she lost and why your state is unworthy. That is, it’s a small state, it’s a Red state, its a purple state, too many activists in your state, to many immigrants in your state, your state doesn’t represent the electorate, ……….”

The American people responded by saying, Hillary, you can’t pull a “Rudy Giuliani”

Hillary and her people had nothing to do with creating super-delegates. The rules were created by a democratic committee to try to make the nominating process as fair as possible to everyone. For people to say that somehow Hillary is rigging the super-delegate vote to benefit her is both wrong and unfair. She is only following the rules made by the party. You do not change the rules in the middle of the game because you don’t like them. You change the rules after the season is over.

It means that the “Democratic” party actually wants their selection process to be “democratic”. Imagine that.

wolf…..

They should have just a popular vote an who get’s more votes is the nominee.

The Democratic system seems to become undemocratic.

It means that there are a substantial number of Democrats who see the obituary of their party should the super delegates decide the primary. Turn out the lights the Party’s over should that happen.

The meaning of the whole process is to see how the majority think about the right candidate. Superdelegates should go according to the will of people. This is the only way the election can be won in Nov.

Jack,

Either camp is going to need the votes of superdelegates to win…so why the focus just on Hillary’s camp? The role of the superdelegates is to be the wisdom of the party, to look at who is really the representative of the Democratic base. It is, after all, the Democratic party, not the Independent party.

And now I hear that Obama has given over money in the thousands to the superdelegates. Can you track that story down to see if it’s true?

It means that maybe some of her supporters actually care about the Democratic party and what it supposedly believes in. As a republican, one of the many that votes for president on the substance of the individual and not animal on their lapel, the Clinton camp has been a huge disappointment. Her statements lack any substance or refinement. The American people deserve a president that they can be proud of, and her and her campaigns dismissal of any states that don’t vote for them. Their dismissal of anything that doesn’t further Billary’s points must finally be wearing on those that have supporter her.

It’s true that the people will decide who the nominee will be. We can’t have a broken convention. If one candidate is leading in total votes, states won, and pledged delegates, then he/she will NEED to be the nominee. Lawyers, back-room deals, or promised cabinet positions can not decide this outcome.

Jack-
Unfortunately, people are creatures of habit and always want to back the winning team. It sounds better to always say that they backed a winner, but it is too close for everyone to decide which side to take. Clinton is looking for support only to insure her win through committments, this shows that she understands the need for loyalty within any political party. Obama does not have this political savey or he would be doing the same thing.
As sited on “The View” last week, Clinton is not allowed to attack Obama because she would be labeled racist and considered a bad person…however, that has not stopped Obama from attacking Clinton about her husband’s past and his administration.
Perhaps this contest should be battled on the floor of the convention without gloves and race to provide a level playing field. Women in America had better wake up for the roll call if they truly believe that Women-another minority, have enough intelligence to handle the job.
Tell City, Indiana

Do Clinton or Obama run the risk of winning the nomination only to lose the general election as a result?

If one of them goes into the convention with the lead in pledged delegates but does not become the candidate because of super delegates isn’t there the possibility for a backlash?

Could enough supporters of the ‘losing’ candidate choose not to vote or even vote for McCain in protest to end up allowing the Republicans to hold onto the White House?

I’m voting Republican so I don’t care.

Pick, pick, pick at each other. The democratic party is doing it to itself again.

This is a government for, of and by the people. The voices and wills of the people must be heard! This election should not be deciced by some backroom-smoked-filled insiders who want to keep “WE THE PEOPLE” suppressed by their non sense!

Let the will of the people be heard, or change party!

Jack,

I think the better question is, with huge states like Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio still in play, why is it being assumed that Hillary will need to rely on so-called “Super Delegates”?

Obama-bots seek to already put an end to this primary when it is still a hotly contested nomination.

Sure, Obama has the lead and the momentum, but I think part of that was due to Hillary underestimating him and trying to just win with a partisan, feel-good campaign instead of really going at Obama and exposing his weaknesses as a potential Democratic candidate.

Questions about his lack of effective experience and reliance on speeches and catch phrases rather than substantive policy are starting to come up more and more now.

Bottom line, this thing is far from over and at this point nobody should be worrying about Super Delegates. Hillary can still make like her husband and be the “Comeback Kid” of this primary contest.

Wow…

Well, I will not be supporting McCain, this will be my first democratic vote, UNLESS Hillary gets the nomination. Then I might not even vote. But I wills ay this- if the Democratic party does not nominate the one with the most delegates, and instead allows the super delegates to push Hillary forward, wow- talk about voter disenfranchisement and and 8 years of McCain.

if i’m not mistaken, superdelegates were instituted by the democratic party in order for the party to have some kind of control over who they nominate.

so, to me, it means that senator clinton is following the rules of the party.

It simply means that they are getting caught up in this “Yes We Can” drama. I am a 59 year old white male, a veteran of two wars and an independent voter. As much as I hate to say this, Hillary is the only candidate to this point to provide us with an economic plan which will in all probability allow her to carry out her other domestic plans. The other websites are full of economic babble that do not provide us with long range solutions. The so called super delegates better start looking for substance. This high school popularity contest must end.

I think Obama should ask mrs. clinton to give an acct. of just what she had done , since being in office, lol it’s a joke! and as far as that health care plan that didn’t work and cost the people millions. So ya I guess she is going to have to call in the clinton favors from thoes super delegates if she has a hope of winning.

At this point, I am more concerned that two States wil not be part of this process. The same democratic prinicpals that has led this Country into two wars and a economic which is slowly eliminating the middle class must be the foundation that ensures these two States have a voice in the election process. I am very concerned about this double message.

Jack:

With every step Mrs. Clinton takes she turns off more people than she attracts. The arrogance implicit in her campaign’s strategy to rewrite rules to which they previously agreed is not going to get any traction with the party or voters.

The numbers of people who’ve said they’ll support Obama - or if she gets the nomination will vote for McCain is astounding. I think her campaign gets this message and is expressing some desperation through their plans to try to rewrite the play book.

If she will run the country as poorly as she’s run her campaign - I’m not sure she’ll be any better than W. OK, that’s a bit of a stretch but you get my point.

Senator Clinton should just let this issue rest, and let the voters decide.

If the “super delegates” or the Democratic establishment becomes involved and do not listen to the voice of the people. . .and if Clinton wins this way. . .she will lose my vote and, I know, those of many other Obama supporters.

It means they are waiting for their party to tell them who to support so that they can get party money for their re-election campaigns.

They are waiting for the money to shake out NOT the will of the people.

It seems that some superdelagetes are looking in the future. They do not wish to be in a predicament where they are the deciding factor for the presidential nominee, and possibly upsetting voters within the democratic party.

Means nothing. She is only stating the obvious. The role of a super delegate is to vote as he/she wishes. Period.

If the people are the ones deciding then every state should count ,including Florida.

Hillary Clinton’s admonition to superdelegates to “exercise independent judgement” shows she’s ready to let private will rule over popular will - then that’s not democracy in the Democattic party.
Some superdelegates still feel in bondage to the Clintons who continue to remind them of past favors. But this is a new day!
Let the people’s will prevail in the Democratic party or the Republicans remain in the White House the next 40 years.

Jack, it amazes me how short-minded some of our politicians think the American People are. Sen. Clinton is in a critical moment in her political career. Her reliance on superdelagates to propel her to the white house shows us how she knows that superdelegates are the only way she can win. And its all about winning, by any means neccissary, if you’re a Clinton. Throwing all your eggs in the “superelegate” basket is a desperate move. She knows that come convention time, Obama will have more pledged delegates, more votes, and more states. The People have spoken.

Am a registered democrate, i made it clear that i’ll only vote for clinton in the general election only if she wins the majority of elected delegate otherwise go Mcain. It is a matter of principal

Jack, obviously it’s their right to question. And, according to the former DNC chair who helped institute this so called super delegate system — he called them uncommitted delegates — the idea was that each of those uncommitted delegates was to vote for whomever they wanted. They were to be uncommitted delegates to the convention. So if John Kerry and Ted Kennedy do not want to follow the choice of the people in Massachusetts, they can do so. Or by the same token if African-American super delegates want to vote for Obama, that is their choice.

Hillary Clinton’s reliance on superdelegates demonstrates the old way of conducting business in Washington. She still has a lot of political favors to call in. It also demonstrates that she is not concerned about the congressional superdelegates and their constituency. She is only concerned with winning at all cost…never mind the fact that the members of congress have to be re-elected after they cast their superdelegate votes. They will be left to contend with betraying the will of the people who put them in office. I believe that the vail is being lifted from their eyes and they are seeinng Hillary Clinton for who she really is.

F. Preyear
Independent
Mobile, Alabama

It shows that the longer Obama is in the race the more supporters he gets. At this rate, he would theoretically crush McCain in a general election.

This just seems Hillary is desperate at this point and will do whatever it takes to win, depriving us of a insperational leader that comes along once in a great while Barack Obama!

Hillary is desperate, and will do anything to win. She should care more about the will of the voters than a few select superdelegate party insiders. If Obama gets more votes, and doesn’t win the nomination it will stink of backroom politics. Besides, we’ve already had almost eight years of the will of the people being ignored.

What is important to mention, but is not being covered by the media, is that the majority of Hillary’s super-delegate lead over Obama derives from unelected DNC committee members and party officials. These are not Representatives or Senators or Governors who are ultimately accountable to the voting public.

GO HILLARY !!!!
IF these pledged superdelegates were going to Obama the media would be silent - quit the favoritism and just report the facts. Obama is also looking for support and “extra” delegates.
The superdelegates should go to the “will of the people” - with the vote of each state. What about Kennedy (Mass) - will he give his superdelegates to Clinton??? - she did win his state.
This race is not over - wait until all the people and all the states have voted - do not put your opinion on who you think should win.

Jack,
Hypocrisy comes to mind when this question is presented. And the Clinton corner is showing very divisive behavior. She is going to need those delegates and knows it. The ugliness has only just begun from Hillary, she will do anything to win. She just wants the White House, our views will be secondary with her, i feel.

Why should this election be any different than those of the past. We voted for Gore but got stuck with Bush. I say we trash the entire way we elect someone and start over.

It just shows that Hillary “supporters” have finally seen the light, and have realized that Obama is the way of the future. They don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons in history books.

It is further proof that Hillary Clinton does not have the leadership qualities that this country needs when her own supporters are questioning her judgement on her strategy to “win”.

Hi Jack;

It means the Obama train is leaving the station and those super fdelegates want to make sure they’re on it. Hillary’s revamped campaign is showing signs that we remember all too well…go negative, accuse your detractors of everything imaginable, and so on and so on..it’s old washington but that’s all the Clinton’s know. It’s a new day and Obama is well set to not only derail the infamous Clintons but also derail McCain’s very own not-so- traight talk express.

It means the DEMOCRACY is working, Super Delegates should NOT dictate who the candidate is, what happened to government for the people BY the People. I agree with you Jack Let the people decide, how novel would that be???

To me this means that Clinton’s Superdelegates are getting ready to jump ship and are just using this as justification when the time comes.

It means they are beginning to distrust her. If I were a superdelegate I would think that she is pressing the issue prematurely, almost in schoolyard bully-esque fashion. That would make me take another look at Obama. If Clinton were really sincere about the fact that the superdelegates’ votes were their individual choice, she’d leave it as the private matter that the vote is supposed to be.

I suppose if she wants to alienate a lot of loyal Democrats she can keep up the pressure on Super Delegates. I think they should follow the lead and will of the voters and vote the way of the average voter….not the super ones!
Carol/Oregon

Superdelegates should be allowed to vote their conscience. At no time since superdelegates have existed has anyone called their votes into question. What we should be questioning is why Obama has “donated” more than $698,000 to superdelegates recently. That certainly doesn’t sound like “change” I can believe in.

There is only one question the superdelegates should ask themselves: Can a candidate that cannot even win their own party primary without intervention from elders that won’t be availabe at the general election actually win the general election? Only one answer: No.

It means that perhaps the democrats got this one right and their system is working.

Jack it’s time for the Clintons to pay attention to what majority of Americans are saying in the polls. How can we even consider voting for someone who is showing the exact disregard for the general public opinion as Bush did in his administration. Is Hillary not a Bush in disguise? That really scares me a lot.

Daniel, Denver

I hope CNN asks the candidates during the upcoming debate whether they will agree to drop out after the Puerto Rico vote if they are behind in pledged delegates and support the will of the people.

What does it mean? It means some of her allies are secretly hoping Obama will win, but they still want to keep the gift baskets they received from Hillary.

Jack, It sounds like those superdelegates are exercising their own judgement and thinking for themselves. Isn’t that what Hillary wanted them to do?

It is becoming more and more odvious that Hillary is the most divisive, most opportunist candadate ever. Obama taks about us “YES WE CAN!” With her it’s all about her. What ever it takes to win. She’s rather destroy the Democratic Party and turn off a whole new generation of enthusiatic voters than lose.
She claims experience. What experience? Failure when put in charhe of National Health Insurance under Bill’s presidency, but sucessful helping to push through NAFTA. Failure to change Wal-Mart when on their Board of Directors but sucessful enriching herself with Wal-Mart stock.
She writes off the many states Obama won as unimportant and seeks to steal the nomination through superdelegates or through seating florida and Michigan delegates chosen through violation of rules her supporters helped to push thro