# Edwards' Delegates **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650 "2008-02-14T20:41:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/1 "2008-02-14T20:41:54Z")
So whats the deal with these guys? If Edwards doesn’t drop out, do they have to vote for him? If he does drop out do they have a choice? If so, how does the Party deal with the constituency choice of Edwards’people to go to the convention when that choice will directly affect the outcome ? Say if Joe goes its Obama, but if Mary goes its Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/2 "2008-02-14T20:50:49Z")
If a candidate drops out, his delegates are basically free agents. They can vote for whoever they want or they can still vote for Edward. Generally, they tend to back the presumptive nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/3 "2008-02-14T21:30:23Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Generally, they tend to back the presumptive nominee. [/QUOTE] Which, in this case, may not exist :smack: By ‘free agent,’ you mean they are functionally equivalent to super-delegates? Is this a state-by-state determination? As in, could a state have decided this way, while another state decides that the delegate should be committed to the second-highest vote-getter in that primary/caucus? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/4 "2008-02-14T21:48:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] Which, in this case, may not exist :smack: By ‘free agent,’ you mean they are functionally equivalent to super-delegates? Is this a state-by-state determination? As in, could a state have decided this way, while another state decides that the delegate should be committed to the second-highest vote-getter in that primary/caucus? [/QUOTE] Each delegate can do whatever he or she wants, so yes, functionally, they’re like superdelegates. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/5 "2008-02-14T22:03:50Z")
[QUOTE=The Flying Dutchman] …If Edwards doesn’t drop out, do they have to vote for him?.. [/QUOTE] AFAIK they’re only obligated to vote for him on the first ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edwards-delegates/437650/6 "2008-02-15T00:37:01Z")
See my post#5 in response to the [same question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455060) last Sunday.