Clinton v Obama = Bush v. Gore?

A rousing win for Obama has put him in the lead for delegates for the nomination.....

or has it?  

(will the establishment screw the voters one more time?)

As has been pointed out before here, but that's NOT the count that counts.  

In fact, in the delegate count, Clinton is well ahead because of the superdelegates.

Here's what I am afraid will happen.  Obama continues from strength to strength in the upcoming days, or falls closely enough behind to keep it close, and he comes out ahead in the pledged delegate count.  The voters have spoken, and Obama is our nominee!

Except, those superdelegates could weigh in the way they have currently and throw the nomination to Clinton.

oh, and they'll call it "a brokered convention..."  not "a ripoff of the party faithful"  

We will once again have the winner of the votes losing in the exercise of an archaic and undemocratic institution.  (I presume that Clinton is the more likely beneficiary as the bigger insider here.)

What then?

[I wish I trusted my party more.  Sigh.]

•  I wouldn't worry

  about HRC being the nominee based purely on superdelegates...

  If Obama heads into the convention with a clear plurality, I can guarantee you that superdelegates will not shift the nod to Clinton.  It jsut won't happen.

  However... I have been sort of mulling a "call out" or letter writing campaign to superdelegates that are supporting Clinton.  Sort of a "Will you pledge to support the will of the common Democratic voter" letter writing campaign.

  Might be an idea worth looking into...

  by zonk on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 07:44:52 PM PDT

•  Tips for blowing off those pesky voters!

  I know.  It's called a brokered convention.  Lovely.

  by Guinho on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 07:46:11 PM PDT

•  Don't worry, it won't get to that

  If Obama has a lead in the delegates (without FL and MI) by then, there is no way in hell that he would not be the nominee.

  by bmozaffari on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 07:46:39 PM PDT

•  On the topic of superdelegates, though...

  What about a concerted letter writing campaign to superdelegates?

  What about forcing Clinton SDs (and she does have the lead there) to pledge to support the "people's choice"?

  What about asking them -- politely - to reconsider, giving what's come out of the NH officials who wrote the letter to the WaPo, the former NOW official who switched sides, etc?

  If we somehow managed to flip a superdelegate, that would definitely be a big story.

  Has there ever been an instance of a superdelegate switching side pre-convention?

  by zonk on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 07:57:51 PM PDT

  •  Superdelegates switch all the time

    Just ask all of Howard Dean's superdelegates! (He did have the lead in superdelegates going into Iowa). Seriously, an Edwards superdelegate switched to Obama last week. And remember, over 400 superdelegates have not made a decision, and many of them seem to be waiting until their state votes. If Obama has a significant lead, he will get the lions share of the unannounced superdelegates. Here's the list of all superdelegates who have endorsed and have not endorsed.

    by msn1 on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 08:19:53 PM PDT

    •  They'll know which way the wind is blowing.

      I can't see them frustrating the will of the voters, especially with a classic smoke-filled room stunt like that.

      by 2ajpuu on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 08:23:52 PM PDT

  •  Some of These "Super-Delegates" Are Unelected

    Exactly what influence do you expect a letter to have on them?

    Now, if the letter includes a CHECK, like Hillary's will...

    by IndianaDemocrat on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 08:21:41 PM PDT

    •  Meh.

      They are politicans, after all. They'll take her check  and throw her to the wolves.

      by 2ajpuu on Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 08:24:58 PM PDT