Democratic Superdelegate Count: Kerry Ahead, Dean Surging

[tsipple]

There are approximately 795 "superdelegates" that go to the Democratic National Convention, 767 of which are party "insiders" and leaders. Superdelegates represent about one sixth of the total delegates.

Their votes are every bit as equal to those of delegates elected through state caucuses and primaries. However, superdelegates get to vote freely, and many have already pledged their votes to particular Democratic candidates. Also, it is extraordinarily unlikely that the superdelegates would go against the wishes of elected delegates to the Convention, since doing so would spur a massive rebellion within the Democratic Party.

With all that said, I found this excellent web site listing the current superdelegate counts. Here are the latest totals, including New Jersey Governor James McGreevey's expected endorsement of Howard Dean:

Kerry: 57
Dean: 43
Gephardt: 35
Clark: 19
Lieberman: 16
Edwards: 10

Note that Congressman Dennis Kucinich can vote for himself, so he has at least one superdelegate pledged. Also, Carol Moseley-Braun has four superdelegates (according to the Chicago Sun-Times) pledged to her.

Superdelegate pledges are not binding, and candidates can encourage their pledged superdelegates to vote for other candidates at any point in time. Elected delegates are pledged to particular candidates, and those pledges are binding on the first ballot at the Convention, although candidates can release their elected delegates at any time.

[La_Serpiente]

1. My Congressman went for Lieberman!!!!!!!!????

Lieberman US Representative Ed Case HI

He said publicly that he liked Lieberman, but I never thought he would endorse him. Case has even signed on to the BBV Bill in the House and would have voted No on the Iraq War Resolution.

Maybe he just views Lieberman as a pragmatist.

[slinkerwink]

2. there's Babbitt, and Roybal-Allard and Xavier Becarra

so there's three superdelegates right there.

[molly]

3. Thanks!

very interesting.

[douginmarshall]

4. 23% and this is flawed

That only represents 23% of the total superdelegates. Come July 100% will be for whomever is left.

Governor Granholm of Mich. is listed as pledged to Kerry. As far as I know she has endorsed no one.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Website is currently down

:-(

[RevolutionStartsNow]

6. Goobergunch's site

http://www.freewebs.com/goobergunch/gpr.html

The totals are different than the other site, one of them probably isn't completely up to date.

[cindyw]

7. I think it's Kerry who is surging. Last week Kerry aprx. 37, Dean aprx. 39

I was on this site last week and it said that Dean, Gep and Kerry were all around 37. Dean has a couple more I think. So the actual truth is that kerry has had a surge of around 20 and Dean has gone up maybe 3 or 4.

[cindyw]

8. Now I'm sure your title is completely misleading.

How about Kerry leading, Kerry surging.

Goobergunch and grumpy bear used to match. Goober had a couple more. Kerry has had a 20 delegate surge in the last week.

I repeat Kerry Leading, Kerry Surging

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Not sure where Kerry is picking up these endorsements from

I haven't seen anything in the past week in the news to indicate this. According to Goobergunch's website Dean is leading.

[cindyw]

10. Goober is not updated.

As far as where they come from. I know of at least one switcher from Lieberman. Other than that, I don't know.

[tsipple]

11. Answer: Data Collection

The site listed above (in the first post) simply forgot to list some of Kerry's earlier endorsements.

You'll notice the dates next to the new endorsements, and they're all Dean's lately. That's why the subject line is written the way it is.

However, it sounds like, from other posts, Kerry's list is a little too big at the moment. (Jennifer Granholm, for example, somebody suggested did not endorse. And Senator Feinstein, who's on Kerry's list, was spotted at a Dean rally a couple days ago.) It's hard to get this information, but the two web sites referenced in this thread are making a good attempt at getting accurate data.

[goobergunch]

13. Feinstein definitely endorsed Kerry

I'll see if I can dig up a link, but I clearly remember it.

[a_lil_wall_fly]

12. US Representative Earl Blumenauer OR --goes too Kerry

So that is one more for Kerry--yes goober's data is out of date and grumpy is not 100% accurate.
If anyone knows grumpy ask him to fully update it.
As well, SEN. Kerry is picking up steam.

[goobergunch]

14. Running an update right now

My site will be updated in a few minutes.

[a_lil_wall_fly]

15. goob..you rock

:toast:

[goobergunch]

16. Thanks!

Updated now.

[CMT]

17. it is interesting how well Dean has done with house members

considering that Gep is their former leader.

[NewJerseyDem]

18. Bonnie Watson-Coleman

According to politicsnj.com State party chair Bonnie Watson-Coleman will also endorse Dean and she is a superdelegate. For anyone who is keeping track of endorsements among African-American, she is black.

Other state leaders like Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Albio Sires will also endorse Dean but they aren't superdelegates. Basically, most of the democratic establishment is lining up with Dean but 3 NJ congressman and Newark's mayor have already endorsed other candidates.