Researching Superdelegates

Democracy for America has a petition to Let the Voters Decide, asking superdelegates to respect the popular vote. In those electron filled back channels of the internet, which may be replacing the smoke filled backrooms of yesteryear, and which I must admit, I’m a member of several, there have been lots of discussions about superdelegates and how they should vote. Should the vote be winner take all? Should it be based on the state a superdelegate is from? The congressional district? Some other constituency?

One person sent an email to a discussion on Minnesota Campaign Report started by a Superdelegate. I’ve been spending some time helping with the www.superdelegates.org website, so I thought I would organize the notes on Superdelegate.org about the Minnesota superdelegates. I wrote about what I found in a comment on that thread, and am copying the comment here:

This is a great discussion. I want to thank Megan for getting the ball rolling everyone for their comments. I'm not from Minnesota, and this is my first post here. I hope you will accept it for what it is and that it will add to the discussion.

I've been helping out a little bit with the Superdelegates.org websites. It is a Wiki where anyone can post information about superdelegates. I've spent a little time looking into the superdelegates in Minnesota and have helped get the Minnesota page into shape.

Based on CNN, Minnesota has 16 superdelegates. Superdelegate.org has identified 14 of these superdelegates. It doesn't include Megan. Any information that can be posted about Megan and the other unknown superdelegate would be greatly appreciated. Also, any corrections would be greatly appreciated.

Also, according to CNN, Minnesota went 67% to 32% for Obama in the caucuses, and the ratio matched the pledged delegates assigned, 48 for Obama and 24 for Clinton. Amongst the superdelegates, as identified by Superdelgates.org, the same ratio is playing out by superdelegates that have endorsed one candidate or another. 6 of the 9 have endorsed Obama and 3 of the 9 have endorsed Clinton.

We can spend a lot of time arguing about whether or not Superdelegates are good for the system, and I find it an interesting argument. One of the most compelling parts of the argument against superdelegates is the lack of transparency and accountability. One way of addressing this is by working together, and making the process more transparent and more accountable.

So, stop by at Superdelegates.org, add whatever information you can, and help make the process more transparent and accountable.

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