NEVADA: Let's cut to the truth about the delegates and caucus process. Q&A

[Essene]

http://www.nvdemscaucus.com/images/draftdelselupdated_oct2007l.pdf

I'm trying to understand this all better.

Right now, major media outlets are reporting Obama with 13 Delegates and Clinton with 12. This apparently isn't 100% accurate, although it's not false. There are 33 delegates at stake, not 25. This is a process.

If i read this correctly, today's caucus is technically a non-binding show of preference at the precinct level, as a step towards the State Convention where things are finally solidified.

The state has a total of 33 delegates at stake... not 25. I believe there are 8 "unpledged" delegates, mostly party officials and elected officials: 1 senator, 1 congresswoman, 5 DNC committee members and 1 floating "add-on" delegate.

I'm not sure if all of these are deemed "superdelegates" but it looks like it includes some.

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegates-who-havent-endorsed.html


Senator Harry Reid has NOT endorsed anybody yet (if that is up-to-date)
Jill Derby - NV Chair - no endorsement
Sam Lieberman - NV Vice Chair - no endorsement
Rep Shelley Berkeley - endorsed Clinton
DNC Steven Horsford - endorsed Obama


Feel free to add more information of clarifications!!!!

[Essene]

1. Question: are these 25 delegates going to be the "final" breakdown?

anybody know?

[Essene]

2. Question: when do the other 8 delegates have to make a decision by?

[Essene]

3. Question: how binding are these endorsements prior to the national convention?

[sandnsea]

4. Obama won the delegates voted on today

The others are the super-delegates that have been discussed here regularly. If anybody is trying to say those 8 delegates have anything to do with today's election, they're grossly misinformed or flat out lying.

This is clear as day. It happens in every single primary and everybody in the Dem Party knows it. They're voting for delegates today who will be seated at the state meeting. Obama will get 13 and Hillary will get 12. That's it.

[Essene]

8. Are they final?

[sandnsea]

10. No, they can be released

And caucus as they choose when they get to Denver. But until Denver, Obama won the Nevada delegates unless he specifically drops out of the race and concedes them.

[Emit]

5. More info here

Saturday 19 January 2008: Democratic Party Caucuses meet in each precinct. Each Precinct Caucus chooses delegates to County Conventions based on presidential preference.

The Precinct Caucus chooses the precinct's delegates to the County Convention of the county in which the precinct is located. While a non-binding Presidential Preference Poll is conducted during the caucuses, delegates at the Precinct Caucus level are not bound to their declared Presidential preference.

Saturday 23 February 2008: County Conventions convene in each county. Each County Convention chooses delegates to the Nevada State Democratic Convention.

These County Conventions choose the county's delegates to the Nevada State Democratic Convention. While a non-binding Presidential Preference Poll is conducted during the Conventions, delegates at the Precinct Caucus level are not bound to their declared Presidential preference.

Friday 18 April - Sunday 20 April 2008: The Nevada State Democratic Convention convenes.


On Saturday 19 April 2008, the State Convention chooses 25 of Nevada's 33 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be allocated National Convention delegates at either the congressional district or statewide level.

16 district delegates are to be allocated proportionally to presidential contenders based on the support among the delegates to the State Convention from each of the State's 3 congressional districts.
CD 1: 6
CD 2: 6 (Washoe 3, Rural Counties 1, Clark 2)
CD 3: 4
In addition, 9 delegates are to be allocated to presidential contenders based on the support among the delegates to the State Convention as a whole.
6 at-large National Convention delegates
3 Pledged PLEOs
The remaining 8 National Convention delegates consist of

7 Unpledged PLEO delegates:
5 Democratic National Committee members.
2 Members of Congress (1 Senator and 1 Representative).
0 Governors.
0 Distinguished Party Leaders.
1 Unpledged "add-on" (selected by the state convention as a whole).
These 8 delegates and will go to the Democratic National Convention officially "Unpledged".

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/NV-D.phtml#0119

And this one is always a good resource, overall: http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/

[Texas_Kat]

7. That's standard Democratic party stuff

All delegates won in a primary or caucus are 'pledged' at least through the first round at the convention.

BUT they don't go to jail if they change their minds..... They'd just never be trusted again.

[Essene]

9. ok, so the 8 have no obligation to pledge before the National Convention

although some will...

[Texas_Kat]

6. Every state has superdelegates, regardless of 'primary' or 'caucus'

Superdelegates don't have to decide till the convention.

Common practice has always been to NOT count the # of superdelegates in the total count except with an asterisk -- even though their delegate seat counts as much as any other.

Nothing is 'new' about this....

Not sure what about the process you are unfamiliar with.