FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's looking like Barack Obama will almost certainly finish up the primary season with more pledged delegates than Hillary Clinton, although it won't be enough to clinch the nomination.
In a Newsweek piece called "Hillary's New Math Problem," Jonathan Alter writes how despite Clinton's three wins this week, the delegate math is working against her. He suggests Clinton needs very large margins in the 12 remaining primaries, an average of about 23 points, which is more than double the margin of her Ohio win.
If Clinton is not leading in pledged delegates come June, a lead in the popular vote might help her convince superdelegates that she is the stronger candidate. But right now, Clinton trails Obama there as well, by about 600,000 votes.
It all boils down to a pretty messy scenario for the Democrats where the nearly 800 superdelegates could be left to decide on the nominee. Clinton still leads Obama when it comes to the votes of these party insiders by 238-to-199. But, keep in mind, if Obama maintains a pledged delegate lead, he'll ultimately need fewer of these superdelegates to commit to him in order to become the nominee.
Alter adds that several prominent uncommitted superdelegates tell him there's no way they would reverse the will of Democratic voters... that it would shatter young people and destroy the party.
Here’s my question to you: How confident are you that the winner of the most pledged delegates in the primary season will become the Democratic nominee?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Chris from Fort Myers, Florida writes:
I have no confidence that the nomination will go to the candidate with the most pledged delegates. In fact, after watching this debacle, I have no confidence that the Democrats even know how to run their own party. Guess how much confidence I have that a Democratic president and a mostly Democratic Congress can effectively run this country?
Charlotte writes:
Jack, Superdelegates may very well decide this race. Their job is to figure out what states were won by which candidate. Will these states most likely vote Democratic or are they states that go to Republicans in November? Since Obama has failed to carry important states in the primary, they have no choice but to consider that in making their decision.
Janice from Whitwell, Tennessee writes:
I don't feel very confident. This is the first time a black man has had a snowball’s chance of winning the highest office. I don't think many people are ready for that including the superdelegates and the media. Example: when HRC cried media bias, the media tucked their tails and jumped on the Clinton wagon. The superdelegates will do the same if the situation arises.
Marie from California writes:
I am not confident at all. The truth is: while Obama's supporters are talking math, the Clinton's are claiming momentum. The old Washington machine is going to support Clinton whatever the numbers are, so watch out. The Democratic Party may be heading for self-destruction rather than an invigorated spurt of growth and a working majority in the Congress.
Mary writes:
I am so confident that the candidate with the most pledged delegates will be the nominee that I am willing to bet money that Hillary Clinton will switch parties mid-primary and join McCain's ticket as V.P. The Democratic voters will be satisfied and Hillary will not have to go stark raving mad from having to actually concede.