# Obama leads in delegate count **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 7, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633 "2008-02-07T03:09:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/121 "2008-02-12T13:50:59Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] [Link](http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/maine_caucuses_barack_obama_to.html): That’s some serious dysfunctionality going on. Not exactly what you’d want from someone who’s selling themselves as ready to run a superpower. [/QUOTE] More and more people are realizing that. I got an email to that effect last night from the CT campaign office. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/122 "2008-02-12T14:08:24Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] [Link](http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/maine_caucuses_barack_obama_to.html): That’s some serious dysfunctionality going on. Not exactly what you’d want from someone who’s selling themselves as ready to run a superpower. [/QUOTE] They’re so dysfunctional and disorganized, they can’t even figure out who’s supposed to pay the bills! This poor guy is still waiting to get paid for _months_ worth of work he did for them back in Iowa. . . [Link](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23115569#23114259) (warning: video) Text [link here](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23112980/). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/123 "2008-02-12T14:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] That’s some serious dysfunctionality going on. Not exactly what you’d want from someone who’s selling themselves as ready to run a superpower. [/QUOTE] Same thing went on with McCain just a few months ago, but to a far greater extent - almost all of his staff quit on him. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/124 "2008-02-12T16:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=ElvisL1ves] Same thing went on with McCain just a few months ago, but to a far greater extent - almost all of his staff quit on him. [/QUOTE] Ahh but McCain didn’t have Obama as his primary opposition, I’ll add that this kind of dysfunctionality at this point in the campaign is [a very bad sign.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23119050). Moreso than with McCain a month and a half ago. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/125 "2008-02-12T17:20:46Z")
There needs to be a list of superdelegates’ names, email, snail mail addresses and phone numbers posted very prominently someplace ([CNN.com](http://CNN.com)?) where voters can easily access it (point one out to me if there is already). People need to inform their state’s superdelegates that we know who they are and when they’re up for reelection (where applicable). [Here’s](http://www.politicalbase.com/groups/virginia-democratic-superdelegates/13893/) one for Virginia, but it’s buried in some blog or something. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/126 "2008-02-12T17:31:12Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] There needs to be a list of superdelegates’ names, email, snail mail addresses and phone numbers posted very prominently someplace ([CNN.com](http://CNN.com)?) where voters can easily access it (point one out to me if there is already). People need to inform their state’s superdelegates that we know who they are and when they’re up for reelection (where applicable). [Here’s](http://www.politicalbase.com/groups/virginia-democratic-superdelegates/13893/) one for Virginia, but it’s buried in some blog or something. [/QUOTE] Campaign offices have the list - the one I work in does…as do they all I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/127 "2008-02-12T17:31:41Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] There needs to be a list of superdelegates’ names, email, snail mail addresses and phone numbers posted very prominently someplace ([CNN.com](http://CNN.com)?) where voters can easily access it (point one out to me if there is already). People need to inform their state’s superdelegates that we know who they are and when they’re up for reelection (where applicable). [Here’s](http://www.politicalbase.com/groups/virginia-democratic-superdelegates/13893/) one for Virginia, but it’s buried in some blog or something. [/QUOTE] I’d recommend not getting too carried away. The Obama campaign circulated an email asking supporters not to annoy the superdelegates with email and phone calls, as it could do more harm than good. I think they’ll come around. I also don’t think it’ll be necessary, as Obama will have enough pledged delegates at the end of the day not to need the supers to push him over the top. Yes we can! Sí se puede! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/128 "2008-02-12T17:32:15Z")
MSNBC was reporting this morning that a majority of superdelegates have committed. Their numbers showed something like 270 for Hillary to 170 for Obama (or thereabouts). MSNBC has interviewed two superdelegates in the past couple of days. Both very young men. Both had been lobbied at length by Hillary, Chelsea, and Bill. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/129 "2008-02-12T17:32:35Z")
What **Shayna** said! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/130 "2008-02-12T17:47:35Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] MSNBC was reporting this morning that a majority of superdelegates have committed. Their numbers showed something like 270 for Hillary to 170 for Obama (or thereabouts). MSNBC has interviewed two superdelegates in the past couple of days. Both very young men. Both had been lobbied at length by Hillary, Chelsea, and Bill. [/QUOTE] 1. Superdelegates are never “committed” prior to the day of the Convention. Their allegiance can change right up until the very last second when they actually cast their vote. 2. There have only been _public_ endorsements from [about 220](http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html%22) superdelegates for Hillary. The higher numbers are coming from inside her campaign, and I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. 3. There are796 superdelegates, so while _technically_ 440, constitutes a majority, the more accurate 356 doesn’t. 4. See #1 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/131 "2008-02-12T18:07:43Z")
I wish **Shayna** would get off the fence and support a candidate already, sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/132 "2008-02-12T18:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] I’d recommend not getting too carried away. The Obama campaign circulated an email asking supporters not to annoy the superdelegates with email and phone calls, as it could do more harm than good. I think they’ll come around. I also don’t think it’ll be necessary, as Obama will have enough pledged delegates at the end of the day not to need the supers to push him over the top. Yes we can! Sí se puede! [/QUOTE] I can certainly understand Obama saying that, but in terms of it doing more harm than good, I have to ask why. Would receiving a bunch of calls/emails cause the superdelegate to vote for Clinton just out of annoyance? If so, I think it’s even more important to carefully consider whether or not those people are worthy of your vote next time around (where applicable) and to let them know that their actions factor in to that decision. People write their Congressmen all the time on a variety of issues. I don’t see why this is any different. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/133 "2008-02-12T18:13:56Z")
At the risk of dramatically understating things, the Democrats should really think about simplifying their primary system for 2012 or '16. Keeping the races open and competitive is great and worth encouraging, but this is byzantine, particularly with superdelegate stuff - we actually can’t even get a decent read on who is in front and the actual voters may not swing things\*. That’s not in anybody’s best interest. In New York, I was reading that the system is even more complicated. > **[Voting in Tomorrow’s Democratic Primary Will Be Needlessly Complicated!](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2008/02/voting_in_tomorrows_democratic.html)** > > You might think that tomorrow you’ll simply be voting for a presidential candidate, but that’s only true for Republicans. When Democrats enter the sacred voting booth, they’ll also be voting for which delegates to send to the party’s national... > [@](#): > > The number of delegates awarded to each candidate in each congressional district is proportional to the popular vote in the district (so long as they reach a viability threshold of 15 percent). So if, for example, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both win 50 percent of the popular vote in the Fifteenth Congressional District, which has six delegates up for grabs, they will be awarded three delegates each. And those delegates will be the three who received the most votes — after equal-gender apportionment is enforced, as required by state law. \*I still think the voters will decide this one and not the superdelegates. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/134 "2008-02-12T18:15:39Z")
Actually, the system you describe in NY is the system everywhere. ETA: Assuming you were talking about the proportional by congressional district with the 15% floor. The gender-equity laws for each candidate’s delegates may be unique (but I doubt it). ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/135 "2008-02-12T19:07:00Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] I wish **Shayna** would get off the fence and support a candidate already, sheesh! [/QUOTE] 😃 Well, this _is_ the place for witnessing, right? 😉 [QUOTE=Marley23] . . . but this is byzantine. . . In New York, I was reading that the system is even more complicated. [/QUOTE] If you think that’s bad, go read my post about how the [Texas Primary/Caucus is set up](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9461754#post9461754). Just _try_ to keep your head from exploding! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/136 "2008-02-12T19:10:47Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] There needs to be a list of superdelegates’ names, email, snail mail addresses and phone numbers posted very prominently someplace [/QUOTE] Here’s the names, at least: [Superdelegates who’ve endorsed a candidate](http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html) [Superdelegates who haven’t endorsed a candidate](http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegates-who-havent-endorsed.html) ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/137 "2008-02-12T19:11:09Z")
From [The New Republic](http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/02/12/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-texas.aspx): > [@](#): > > An incredibly thorough, district-by-district, demographic-based analysis (by a judicious-seeming Obama supporter) finds that even a 5-point Hillary win in the statewide vote could leave Obama with a slight delegate advantage (thanks in part to Texas’s screwy primary-caucus hybrid system). That suggests that if Hillary finds herself needing to overcome a delegate disadvantage on March 4 she’ll likely have to win the state by a big margin. > > And, yes, this person assumed strong Hispanic support for Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/138 "2008-02-12T19:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] I wish **Shayna** would get off the fence and support a candidate already, sheesh! [/QUOTE] She must be a killer poker player. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/139 "2008-02-12T19:40:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] She must be a killer poker player. [/QUOTE] You’d be surprised. Turns out she’s really voting for McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633/140 "2008-02-12T20:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] You’d be surprised. Turns out she’s really voting for McCain. [/QUOTE] ::twirls moustache:: heh heh heh heh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-leads-in-delegate-count/436633.md?page=8)