Slog - Comments on Washington Superdelegate Watch

Comment by feel dumb

feel dumb — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:44:43 -0800

I feel dumb asking this, but how can there be main-in primary ballots in WA, and also these meet-up, informal sounding caucuses?

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:47:18 -0800

I secretly love Maria Cantwell.

Comment by vooodooo84

vooodooo84 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:51:25 -0800

secretly? i want to hump her all the time

Comment by cressona

cressona — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:53:41 -0800

I realize Eli's just doing his job, but counting superdelegates at this point is a pointless task. Come convention time, if one candidate has a clear margin with the rank-and-file delegates, there's no way the party establishment is going to stand in his/her way. Doing so would mortally wound the nominee.

The LA Times had a good story about this a week or so ago. Can't find it now.

Comment by ghostlawns

ghostlawns — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:57:17 -0800

feel dumb - good question.

I got the voter guide to the primary yesterday and was confused as well. It says you can both caucus and vote in the primary as long as it's for the same party.

can someone at slog tell us what the hell the difference is and is one meaningless?

Comment by PickleDeeDee

PickleDeeDee — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:59:27 -0800

Feeldumb, ditto here. Does it mean if I don't weigh in on the caucus on Feb 9th, my candidate may not appear on the primary ballot?

Comment by infrequent

infrequent — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:03:56 -0800

i think the dems caucus for all delegates. the reps caucus for 49%, and primary for 51%.

Comment by infrequent

infrequent — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:06:59 -0800

i find it interesting that in polls obama leads among washington voters, but clinton leads among super-delegates. the polls could be very wrong, and SD votes can change, of course.

Comment by Cleve

Cleve — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:13:20 -0800

The Feb. 9th "precinct caucus" is the only place where your voice/vote "counts" for choosing Obama versus Clinton. The Feb. 19th primary election is something you can vote in but your vote does not "count." The Feb. 9th precinct caucus includes vote4s from your precinct which is usually just a few blocks in urban areas. The precinct caucus "counts" because your voice/vote helps your precinct elect delegates for Obama or Clinton to a series of other caucuses (legislative district caucus, county caucus, state convention) where ultimately the delegates in favor of Clinton or Obama will be chosen to go to the big Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer. That's where the actual choice of Obama or Clinton is made though usually one knows beforehand who will be chosen because you know how many delegates each side has.
The Feb. 19th primary election results do not count for picking delegates to the Democratic National Convention. I believe state law says we have to have a primary. But also, I believe, the State Democratic Party had the ability to say the primary election results won't "count" for choosing delegates to the National Democratic Party Convention.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:13:34 -0800

What superdelegates do when there's a clearcut winner doesn't tell us much about what they do when there isn't.

This is shaping up to be an unusual year. I actually think that helps the Democrats, since they're having an excellent, serious public discussion about what they should have and why, while the Republicans are beating each other over the head trying futilely to set the calendar back to 1980. The Democratic primary season, for the first time in my memory, is actually riveting and exciting.

But back on topic: the superdelegates could go down to the wire. 5-2 Clinton, 10 undecided. Does anyone know how late our superdelegates waited in 2004?

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:16:54 -0800

I wonder how many of them are leaning toward Obama but are worried about pissing off the establishment. You can't go wrong supporting Clinton. Even if she doesn't get the nomination, you've still sucked up to the party leaders.

Comment by pickledeedee

pickledeedee — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:18:05 -0800

Cleve, Well put, thanks. I'm a bit surprised that I don't need my voting card, just I.D. and my "vote" is just on a sign in sheet (oer the Wa Dems website) --how do I know the caucus workers will make sure my vote is counted? I'm in a huge Obama precinct and I am voting for HRC.

Comment by Tony

Tony — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:27:10 -0800

Superdelegates = Establishment. Sometimes their choices do not match their constituents' choices. However, they do have the ability to switch their allegiances, and usually do if the person who emerges as the frontrunner is not their chosen candidate. Ignore them and choose the candidate of your choice.

Comment by Cleve

Cleve — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:37:28 -0800

@12

de nada.
I've never heard reports of problems with honestly counting votes in the Democratic precinct caucuses in Washington State. There should be ~10-50 folks (?) turning up at your precinct caucus, & I think they are going to show everyone those sign in sheets with the counts for Clinton or Obama so you should know right away if there is a problem. (I don't think the "party organizers" go off in a secret room and come back to announce the counts, in other words). If there is a problem I'd say use the cell phone and call the campaign of the candidate of your choice. Or the media. When there are problems of this nature it eventually boils down to lawyers taking affidavit statements and such so take names of witnesses if you expereince anything untoward. Still, based on past experience, I personally wouldn't worry.

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:38:09 -0800

To be fair, there's a reason why the Establishment is the Establishment. Gregoire and most of the others got elected.

I wouldn't mind seeing the automatic seats for party vice-chairs go away, though.

Comment by Graham

Graham — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:03:09 -0800

Okay, okay. Most of these guys will wait until the state decides. For example, I suspect Dwight Pelz is an Obama fan, but as state chair will sit it out and go where the state goes (which should be Obama.)

Gregoire is totally Clinton territory. Three letters: D-L-C.

I hope McDermott comes out and endorses, because I assume he'd go for Obama.

Comment by Mike of Renton

Mike of Renton — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:51:06 -0800

I'm curious about what Brian Baird will do since he came out in support of the war a few months back.

Comment by Gitai

Gitai — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:13:14 -0800

I'd rather the number of superdelegates either be cut down to a quarter of their current number, or the number of pledged delegates be increased such that superdelegates make up all of 10%. I don't object to having an establishment brake to prevent someone insane and unelectable from taking the nomination, but it needs to be a brake, not a brick wall. 39% of all delegates is fucking ridiculous.

Comment by MarkyMark

MarkyMark — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:24:55 -0800

I don't get why Martin Luther King County Executive Ron Sims is a superdelegate.

Comment by BarackOutWithYourCaucusOut

BarackOutWithYourCaucusOut — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:00:38 -0800

WHY WHY WHY did the retarded superdelegates who committed to Clinton do so when it is VERY obvious this state cannot stand her (i.e. Dennis Kucinich could probably still win here in spite of dropping out)??? Super delegates are like babysitters... there so when mommy and daddy go out for the night, the kids don't get into the cookie jar and get what they actually want. They might as well put child safety guards on the polling boothes. What right does Ron Sims have to negate my caucus vote by voting A MONTH AGO for Clinton? Douche. The SD's should not be able to commit until the day of the primary/caucus in each state. That said, in my opinion, they shouldn't exist AT ALL.

Comment by RobKent

RobKent — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:08:35 -0800

Thanks STRANGER for publishing this. I contacted
Gregoire's office to ask she pledge her superdelegate vote to the clear winner of Saturday's caucus (regardless of who she endorses). If Obama wins handily then pressure needs to be put on the other superdelegates to get in line with their constituents and change their vote (my understanding is that these committed votes can be changed up until the convention). I certainly hope Howard Dean can sort this mess out before it ruins the party.

Comment by Julian of Bellevue

Julian of Bellevue — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:45:26 -0800

My own opinion: if the SDs vote against what ends up being the popular vote, heaven help the Democratic party. There will be a backlash.

It could very well be that Obama gets the most delegates, but because of the super delegate rules, HRC could win the nomination. This would be a disaster.

If any of the delegates from our state vote against the majority winner in their district, I will be among many that will work tirelessly to see that they're voted out of office.

Comment by Tomas

Tomas — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:59:09 -0800

#16:
Gregiore announced support for Obama today...

Curious about Rep. Jim McDermott and who he supports.

Comment by t

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:07:59 -0800

that'd be Gregoire for Obama now!