(2008-02-22) Democrat Superdelegates

The Democratic Party Presidential Candidates 2008 may be decided by their Super Delegate-s. After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party implemented changes in its delegate selection process, based on the work of the Mc Govern Fraser Commission. The purpose of the changes was to make the composition of the convention less subject to control by party leaders and more responsive to the votes cast during the campaign for the nomination. These comprehensive changes left some Democrats believing that the role of party leaders and elected officials had been unduly diminished, weakening the Democratic ticket. In response, the superdelegate rule was instituted after the 1980 election. Its purpose was to accord a greater role to active politicians.

Dave Winer started thinking about this a couple weeks ago, but thinks they'll follow the will of the people.

Fred Wilson isn't so sure.

Clay Shirky thinks Clinton is under-estimating the anger she could unleash. Democratic voters turn out to care a great deal about process; Al Gore's Electoral College loss in 2000 was a calamity, and the idea that that sort of end-run might be perpetrated on us again by a member of our own party strikes us as a betrayal of trust.