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John Edwards is not a superdelegate
Since I was quite surprised to discover this, I thought I'd point this out for the rest of the TPM community. John Edwards is not a superdelegate. He's no longer a Senator, and obviously never achieved Democratic Party Leader status, but he's also not one of the DNC superdelegates, either.
On the upside, as others have already pointed out, he does have a few pledged delegates that will most likely drift Obama's way (in fact, this has already begun to happen).
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Comments (13)
I'd say his pledged delegates make him something of a super-duper delegate this year. I'll bet those poor people are going to have to change their phone numbers.
May 15, 2008 7:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
He also, I heard last night, still has 1 superdelegate who endorsed him and hasn't moved yet (don't know who). So that's a potential 19 altogether.
May 15, 2008 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes indeed, super-de-dooper.
Don't forget about his supporters. Keep in mind 7% of West Virginia voters, voted for him.
He's got a pretty good sized "bundle o votes" riding in on his coat tails. Which is why both Obama and Hillary have been courting him. Who needs the stinkin DPL status? :)
His endorsement certainly makes me feel better about voting for Obama, when he gets the nomination. I'm also looking forward to not having to read anymore negative snark about him, as the biggest beef with Edwards holding out seemed to be that since he hadn't come out for Obama, he wasn't worthy of support. I think he's bringing a needed populist push to the Dem platform, and I am grateful to him for that.
Does anyone know if Obama made any concessions on policy to get Edwards support?
May 15, 2008 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely. Just to be clear, my post was not in any way meant to lessen his importance.
I respect the man, and I think he will make a valuable contribution to Obama's campaign, although primarily in the GE component of it.
May 15, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think he could end up being a Superdelegate as either an add-on for NC or an add-on for the DNC.
May 15, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm actually shocked you didn't know this. Just like George McGovern isn't an SD either. It was "the talk" of the liberal blogosphere back in the fall. Yeah, the Edwardses do not participate in their state Democratic party, or in the national one that much, so they have no stature. And I'm still on record at thinking it's a load of crap that Chelsea Clinton gets afforded SD status. Does that mean that Gore's kids also are SDs?
May 15, 2008 9:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, at the time it wasn't a concern of mine. :)
It is kind of messed up that there are 3 superdelegates in Hillary's immediate family (including Hillary).
May 15, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
For the record, Chelsea Clinton is NOT a superdelegate.
May 15, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you sure? I thought she wasn't a super, but then back in October, it got pounded into me over and over that she was.
May 15, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just checked DCW and she's not on their list of superdels.
May 15, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to know.
May 15, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have been wondering all last evening and this morning about what happens to Edwards' pledged delegates now that he has endorsed. Does he get to give them to Obama? Do they get to decide whom to back? Do they not get seated at the convention? And how many people are we talking about, anyway?
Sorry for my ignorance about this, I simply don't know and don't know where to look, so if anyone has any insight please reply.
Thanks.
-- Ned
May 15, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
The get to decide, but as we've seen with about five who have gone on the record since yesterday, they will lean in the direction of Edwards' endorsement. I believe 3 out of his 18 have made it official that they're getting behind Obama.
May 15, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
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