Two questions for other caucus states' pledged delgates.

[El Supremo]

I just want to see if the Democratic Party rules here in Colorado are the same in other states with caucuses.

First, the delegates to our state convention are not bound to vote for a particular candidate. They can actually change their mind. But I assume few do.

Second, if a delegate fails to show up and vote at our state convention, he/she is replaced by an alternate for the same candidate. If there are not enough alternates for that candidate, then and alternate for the other candidate can substitute. That means that not only the one candidate loses a vote, but the other candidate gains that vote.

Is this true in other states?

[MaineDem]

1. Not quite

We follow the same rules up to the point where you said Alternate from another candidate can replace an absent delegate. We can only replace a Delegate with an Alternate pledged to the same candidate. If there is no Alternate, the Delegate slot goes unfilled.

[d.amber]

2. Washington Caucus system

Yes they can change their minds, but that is why we vote for the strongest supporters to go forward and only those who will not change their minds and will show up.

They do fill the spots with alternates..I'm a Obama Alternate. Then go forward, but if there isn't enough then votes are lost. However, as we move up this hardly happens.

We are going to congressional district caucuses this weekend and as far I know everyone will show up and I'm expecting us to go forward with our 70% support for Obama to State and then National. We will be voting for national delegates on Sat.

[El Supremo]

3. We were short on delegates...

at at least two CD Conventions. 190 short (total Obama & Hillary) at one CD and about 40 Obama short at another CD. There were enough alternates to fill in the missing voters.

But if we had had even more Obama alternates at one of these, we could have gained one national delegate over Hillary. That is one more from the original Caucus voting allotment.

Thanks.