# Dean has more delegates than Kerry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708 "2004-01-30T04:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/1 "2004-01-30T04:29:17Z")
I’ve been reading on [cnn.com](http://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? ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/2 "2004-01-30T04:30:31Z")
Gah. The HOWARD DEAN has more delegates than John Kerry. Preview before posting, dumb girl. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/3 "2004-01-30T04:34:36Z")
Give us a CITE that is better than “CNN”. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/4 "2004-01-30T04:38:25Z")
> [@Girl Next Door](#): > > I’ve been reading on [cnn.com](http://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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/5 "2004-01-30T04:40:02Z")
Fascinating. How are “superdelegates” chosen? Do the Republicans have anything similar? ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/6 "2004-01-30T04:40:31Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/7 "2004-01-30T12:05:58Z")
CNN has a [Delegate Scorecard](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/index.html) 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 ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/8 "2004-01-30T13:45:12Z")
> [@Girl Next Door](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dean-has-more-delegates-than-kerry/226708/9 "2004-01-30T13:50:03Z")
> [@Girl Next Door](#): > > 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. 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.