'The people' should decide the nominee
By LEE TANT, T&D Staff WriterThursday, March 06, 2008Sixth District Congressman Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., says the perception that superdelegates could ultimately name the Democratic presidential nominee is exaggerated.
Democrats could arrive at their convention without a definitive nominee, leaving superdelegates to select the party's presidential hopeful, Clyburn said. However, he believes superdelegates would not reverse the will of the people in the race between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
"That's not the role we play," said Clyburn, who is a uncommitted superdelegate.
Superdelegates are elected and party officials who comprise almost 20 percent of the Democratic Party's total delegate count. For the 2008 election, there are 794 superdelegates. They can vote freely for any candidate and are not bound by their states' primary or caucus results.
The race between Clinton and Obama is now even closer, with the former first lady winning Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island on Tuesday.
Clinton's triumphs ended Obama's recent dominance and brings the importance of winning the hearts and minds of superdelegates into the limelight.
According to the Associated Press, Obama still leads Clinton by a margin of 1,564 to 1,463 in total delegates. With 2,025 delegates being the magic number needed to win the Democratic nomination and the likely prospect of Clinton and Obama splitting the delegates from the remaining state primaries and caucuses, superdelegates may well select the party's nominee.
An unofficial superdelegate count has Clinton leading Obama by a margin of 240 to 196, according to the Web site www.demconwatch.blogspot.com. That leaves 358 superdelegates still up for grabs.
State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, does not see how Clinton can mathematically catch up in pledged delegates, which are picked during state primaries and caucuses.
"I think Obama will win the nomination given where we are today," said Cobb-Hunter, a superdelegate who sits on the Democratic National Committee. She was quick to point out that she has not endorsed either candidate but stated she will work very hard to elect the Democratic nominee.
She believes there is a consensus in this country that superdelegates should not wield such potential power.
"Our role should not be to determine the nominee. That ought to be left to the people," she said. However, Cobb-Hunter does not believe the party will reach the convention with the nominee still in question.
Clyburn thinks that the close Democratic race is good for the party and not a source of division, as some suggest. He says it gives the candidates a chance to sharpen their skills.
Like Cobb-Hunter, Clyburn has not pledged public support for either Clinton or Obama. Even so, he said he has decided personally on who he wants in the White House next year.
"I'm not undecided, I'm unpledged. I've already cast my vote," he said.
Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House, said he would get publicly involved for a candidate if he believed it would be beneficial.
"I don't think we're there yet," he said.
n
T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@times anddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
