Delegate reminder: Dean still leads

[Capn Sunshine]

from abcnews.com:


As of January 29, 2004 at 8:30 am ET.
Howard Dean 111
John Kerry 102
Dick Gephardt 44
John Edwards 37
Wesley Clark 30
Joe Lieberman 21
Carol Moseley Braun 3
Al Sharpton 3
Dennis Kucinich 2

By David Chalian



Jan. 29— Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean can still claim front-runner status in one important aspect of the Democratic nomination fight. Dean has thus far amassed the most delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which is, of course, how a nomination is won.


This estimate is an overall tally of the current delegate race. There are two types of delegates who will attend the convention. Pledged delegates are required to support a candidate based on the results of their home state's caucuses or primary. Unpledged delegates -- or "superdelegates" -- are free to vote for the candidate of their choosing and can change their minds and public positions on whom they support as often as they wish before the summer.



This aint over folks. The Fat lady is still in the cab on her way over. She sure as hell isn't backstage getting ready to sing.

[Anwen]

1. True, this is FAR from over!

Anybody who thinks Kerry's win is a sure thing after winning two small states is mistaken.

[Capn Sunshine]

2. Media onslaught aside of course

The corporate media is pretty convinced about Kerry's prospects.

[auntpattywatty]

3. whichever one the media chooses will be our nominee - it sure will be more

fun if it's Dean. I've already heard some of them saying so. Maybe they will put Dean back at the front. They would have more fun tearing him down after he is president.

[cheezus]

4. How does one become a "superdelegate"?

Is there a waiting list I can get on? :)

[yellowcanine]

8. Most are elected officials

Get elected as a Democratic office holder and you can be a super delegate.

[Nazgul35]

9. you have to be a current holder of federal elective office from...

one of the states or held the office of president/VP....

plus some other honorary one's as well I am sure...

[Capn Sunshine]

10. You have to be more powerful than a locomotive

actually you are a high up Dem Party op, usually elected office or advisor to same

[NewJerseyDem]

20. Members of Congress and DNC members

Also, ex-presidents, ex-vice presidents, ex-Speakers, ex-DNC chairs, ex-senate and house democratic leaders. Also, the Mayor of DC seems to get a vote.

Here's a link with all the superdelegates and most of their endorsements.


http://www.grumpyoldbear.com/Superdelegates.htm

[Hoppin_Mad]

5. "Stand with us" Dr. Howard Dean -nt-

[janx]

6. It's especially interesting to notice where the delegates are

from.

[yellowcanine]

7. Because of early endorsements by super delegates when Dean was leading

First of all, there is no guarantee that some of those delegates won't defect if Dean doesn't start to win some primaries.
And second, if Dean doesn't start to win some primaries, this early lead in the delegate count will be meaningless. I think you are grasping at straws here.

[Capn Sunshine]

11. This shows a vital and viable organization

hardly grasping at straws to point out what IS.

[yellowcanine]

21. Ok, whatever - I just don't think a 9 delegate lead

is that important at this point - particularly when you consider that the lead is based on super-delegates who can defect under party rules but delegates won in a primary or caucus have to vote for that candidate on the first ballot. I also don't know how "vital and viable" Dean's organization is right now. Disarray is the term that comes to mind for me.

[newsjunkie]

12. Remember ..Dean won the first primary

in DC and he didnt even show up for the debate! Sharpton was there and said "I want to know where Howard Dean is" and then Howard won anyway. LOL but he was campaigning somewhere else that day.

[jsw_81]

15. That wasn't a real primary

It wasn't even recognized by the DNC.

[John_H]

13. Isn't this like watching TV on election night and screaming:

"We're winning!" with one percent of the vote in?

[jsw_81]

14. Those are mostly superdelagates

And they can change their mind at any time.

[Capn Sunshine]

16. They're party insiders who have long considered Kerry's candidacy

They've had equal access to Kerry. Yet aligned themselves with Howard Dean.

Change their minds? Maybe the Kerry delegates will see the light and change theirs. Just as likely.

[jsw_81]

17. Many endorsed Dean MONTHS ago when he was the clear front-runner

But now Dean is broke and going down in flames. You'll see a huge shift toward Kerry on February 3 unless Dean starts to actually win primaries.

[janx]

18. "Broke and going down in flames" ??

You're killing me man. B-)

[jsw_81]

22. I see you're currently in the denial stage

Don't worry, acceptance is just around the corner.

[MercutioATC]

23. Hey, we're still raising over $1M/week...same as before Iowa.

That's not denial, that's fact.

...seems that it's exactly this type of fundraising that's set the standard...

[markus]

25. Yes, we're coming

How could we have mistrusted the telescreen and its limitless wisdom?

"He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark moustache. O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving ! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother."

[ACPS65]

19. Yeah

I've seen this little nugget get thrown around ever since the "Zogby: DEAN IS SURGING BACK!" threads died down.

[joshcryer]

24. I have read that they will not change their mind...

...unless it's a mathematical improbablity that the candadite they are sponsering will win. So basically, you can count superdelegates as viable if a person is going strong with delegates.

I think the point here is really that we don't freaking know who is in the lead or who is viable here.