Debate intensifies over role of super delegates in Clinton-Obama race
The elite party insiders will likely determine the Democratic presidential candidate. But should they vote as their constituencies did? Go with their own preferences? Or throw in with whoever leads?
WASHINGTON — With victories Tuesday in three more elections, Barack Obama has now won 23 of the 35 sanctioned Democratic primaries and caucuses so far. But he has not yet solved his problem with Mannie Rodriguez.
Rodriguez supports Hillary Rodham Clinton -- and his vote matters more than most. He is a "super delegate," one of the 796 Democratic Party insiders who will break the tie if neither Obama nor Clinton emerges from the primary balloting with a clear victory, a strong possibility even after Obama's wins Tuesday.
Obama's task on Tuesday was not only to carry Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. -- which he did in dominating fashion -- but to win the argument now emerging among the super delegates over whether and how to use their strength.
And that contest is far from producing a winner.
Rodriguez, a party official from Colorado, reserves the right to back Clinton, no matter that Colorado and a majority of other states have so far chosen Obama. "I do not go with the candidate who is always winning. I go with the candidate I believe in," he wrote recently to a voter who asked how he could side against the Democratic voters in his own state.
Dan Parker, chairman of the state party in Indiana and a super delegate, feels just as strongly -- even though his state will not vote until May.
"I have made my decision, and I am supporting Sen. Clinton, and that is not going to change," Parker said.
Even as the primary schedule rolls on -- Wisconsin and Hawaii vote next Tuesday -- the campaigns are devoting a huge amount of energy to gaining the upper hand in the private conversation among the super delegates, most of whom are members of Congress or party officials.
Clinton has won pledges from just over 200 super delegates so far, and Obama from about 150, according to unscientific media tallies. The super delegates can change their allegiance at any time.
In a breakthrough for Obama, his victories Tuesday pushed him ahead for the first time in the race for delegates overall, according to an Associated Press tally.
Obama is certain to use his victories in Tuesday's so-called Potomac Primaries to try to change the minds of super delegates such as Parker and Rodriguez by building the case that the party's elite insiders would set off angry protests if they overturned the will of the voters.
The strength of Obama's winning coalition on Tuesday could help him in that effort.
