The Devil is in the Details

So here is precisely where we are in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Barack Obama has the lead in the popular vote, among pledged delegates, and among superdelegates who have expressed a preference. All this is true unless you happen to be Hillary Clinton. So just how, from her perspective, can the nomination be taken from Obama even as Kentucky and Oregon vote today?

It can happen by two separate processes, both of which have little to do with actual voters or their preferences. The Clinton campaign is still reportedly trying to strong arm both uncommitted superdelegates, and those who support her who might be thinking about bolting to Obama. The whole superdelegate structure is something few Americans know about, much less understand. Do most folks know, for example, that there are still almost 50 superdelegates yet to be named by the DNC? 

Most voters also don't know that the practice of making all Democratic members of Congress superdelegates only dates back to 1996. It didn't make much of a difference then, what with Bill Clinton cruising toward a second term. However, as Matt Taibbi points out in this week's Rolling Stone (he's required reading for people serious about politics, btw), members of Congress care most of all about which candidate will help them get re-elected. It's this self interest that has driven the superdelegate race through this entire election cycle.

Then there's the end of the month meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the DNC. They'll decide what to do about Florida and Michigan. Remember, it was this same committee that banned delegates from both states for moving up their primaries. Of its 30 members, 13 are Clinton supporters, 8 back Obama. That means the fate of this nomination process lies in the hands of nine party committee members, and superdelegates not bound by anything other than their word at any given time.

Nice.