Dean has more delegates than Kerry?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve been reading on cnn.com that currently has more delegates than John Kerry. How is that possible, since Kerry has won the two states that have had their caucus/primary to date?

2

Gah.

The HOWARD DEAN has more delegates than John Kerry.

Preview before posting, dumb girl.

3

Give us a CITE that is better than “CNN”.

4

The Democratic party has over 800 “superdelegates” (unpledged delegates) who are not selected in the primary elections. Their votes are theirs to cast, and many of them have already endorsed Dean. The paltry few delegates controlled by Iowa and New Hampshire are not enough to throw Kerry into the lead.

5

Fascinating. How are “superdelegates” chosen? Do the Republicans have anything similar?

6

So, then, what’s all this hubbub about who “won” which state? I mean, technically, Kerry ISN’T in the lead, is he? Dean is still “winning” at this point, even though the media is making him sound like he’s all done.

7

CNN has a Delegate Scorecard with total delegates for each candidate, broken down by state.

Current standings are:

Dean: 113

Kerry: 94

Edwards: 36

Clark: 30

Leiberman: 25

Sharpton: 4

Kucinich: 2

Needed to win: 2,161

8

Because to actually “win” you need to win enough states to garner enough delegates. To do THAT you need money and momentum, which generally comes from the early primaries.

Imagine Dean, Kerry and the rest as race car divers for the Indy 500. Imagine Dean as a 1/2 lap ahead early in the race, but running out of gas…with serious questions about whether he has any gas available at the pit stop. Imagine Kerry with a full tank of gas right now…and gaining speed.

9

The early delegates are not permanently committed to anyone, and are free to drop Dean if they decide he’s not going to win. Dean’s support among those superdelegates can easily evaporate, and will if he falls behind by too much.

OTOH, the delegates elected in the primary and caucuses are committed (at least through the first ballot). They also are people picked by the Dean or Kerry camp as enthusastic followers, not a politician who likes a candidate, but who may not be ready to follow him anywhere.