I don't think it will happen. But if Obama left the Democratic party, a lot of us would go with him.

None of that would surprise me. I doubt he gives a whit about the Democratic Party and, frankly, if any of you would follow him, Lieberman-style, to create their own party, obviously neither do you.

But, if that happens, at least we'll know with certainty it really is a cult of personality.

So, would it be OK for me to encourage the idea that Sen. Clinton run as an independent in case she's not the nominee? Threaten to leave the Dems if *my* candidate is not the nominee?

If Clinton grew the party through a highly effective grass roots campaign, won the popular vote and pledged delegates, and then lost the nomination because the super delegates decided to give it to Obama, then yes, it would be OK.

Good reply, MMasonM.

Actually, pmj6, I think it's HIGHLY unlikely. Obama seems pretty dedicated to the Democratic Party, and if Hillary wins the nomination, I'm sure he'll encourage his supporters to rally around him.

I really think everybody can relax about this. The truth is, both candidates are very strong against the Republicans--I mean, come on...what've they got to offer except more war, torture, more debt, devaluing of the dollar and the economy, etc.? (Geez, just thinking about it makes me want to put on my Soundgarden CDs and go on a bender.)

The raison d'etre for the super-delegates is simply to protect the party from nominating a weak general election candidate. Neither of our candidates fit this description. So if Hillary ends up being the most popular Democratic candidate, she'll get the nomination. Likewise for Obama. In the case of a virtual tie, I'm sure the party will work something out that will not demoralize and drive away new Dem voters.

Understand that a lot of the sensitivity around this issue has to do with anxiety of being "over-ridden" by the party's elite insiders--something, generally speaking, MOST people would be aggrieved about. I just don't see that happening.

Remember, everyone...the good news is that all signs are the Democratic Party is re-energized! I am positive the party (and both candidates) aren't going to risk blowing that HUGE advantage going into the GE.

Everybody take a deep breath!!

In the heat of the primary season, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that these are basically two mainstream Democratic politicians who are quite close together on the issues. There's no fuel to make a 3rd-party fire with here.

Barring some big Hillary upset in Wisconsin, Obama should be able to shore up his winning position over the next few weeks, and the superdelegates (who can read polls) will link arms and we'll all be singing Kumbaya by May Day.

I have to disagree with most of you. The democrats have experienced two elections recently where THEIR vote didn't seem to matter. Even thos their candidate won the majority of the votes, they lost because of a few delegates. Most of us political junkies know about Delegates and Super Delegates and who they are and why we have them. Unfortunately, there's a lot of voters that do not understand this. All they know is the majority rules law.

If as I said before, they lose once again, even tho their candidate won the majority vote and delegates - they will NOT understand the Super Delegate rules. They will be outraged.

I honestly believe that riots will happen, anger will be abundant. Hillary will lose by a big margin because the base will refuse to even bother voting.

It takes a village as Hillary says -- get enough people angry and that Independent base will grow like a balloon.

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Where do you get the idea that I think supers will vote for Obama? In fact I think the opposite. Are you talking to me?

Obama, Gore, and Bloomberg should start their own party. With Bloomberg's money, Gore's connections, and Obama's community organizing and grass-roots support, I betcha they could get a lot of Democrats and maybe a few disaffected Republicans to jump ship. I mean, seriously, if the supers push Clinton through (the candidate who is trailing McCain by large margins in swing states, the candidate who completely effed up her campaign, the candidate who blew through all of her money, the candidate who half the country hates) - if they pick her, then obviously they're idiots. I swear that all the red-state Dems would join a new party. They're sick of getting shit on. Western state Dems. Midwest Dems. A few Dems from New England. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are awful, contradictory institutions. Blow them up and start over.

The Democratic Party needs Obama more than Obama needs the Democratic Party. He's energized voters that have never been concerned with politics. He is also already running as a DC outsider. He's used the Party to make his mark, but he should be encouraged away from the Party by the negative campaigning of Hillary. To remain in the Party is to be weighed down by the stench of her negative campaigning. He should leave the Party regardless of whether he is its nominee or not.