Schneider: Clinton's delegate problem
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(CNN) - In what may be bad news for Clinton, Democrats across all four states overwhelmingly say they want super delegates to vote based on which candidate finishes ahead in the pledged delegate count at the end of the primary season.
Majorities of Democrats in Texas (62 percent), Ohio (61 percent), Rhode Island (57 percent) and Vermont (66 percent) all said the super delegates should cast their vote for the primary winner, not for who they think can best win in November.
Why is this bad news for Clinton? As CNN's John King has made clear on his interactive delegate map, it is nearly impossible for Clinton to catch up to Obama's pledged delegate count. She would have to win the rest of the states convincingly to do so, given that the party allots delegates proportionally. Barring large blowouts in the remaining contests, its likely Clinton will finish behind Obama in pledged delegates.
Related Video: CNN Political Editor Mark Preston discusses Tuesday's results
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
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If Obama wins tonight, then our next president in November would be McCain. There is no chance for Obama to win against him. He has no expirience for that kind of job. Besides, a lot of Clinton voters will vote for McCain in that case. he will loose.
This is stupid. These people don't even know what superdelegates are for! Superdelegates were instated in the first place so that someone who was popular in the primaries but ultimately unelectable in the general didn't win the nomination, to protect the party's best interests. If superdelegates should vote how the people vote... why do they exist at all?
I'm a Clinton supporter, but if Obama was trailing, I would say the exact same thing. Superdelegates are there to exert their judgement on the candidates just as we do.
janet glazier, this showdown between clinton and obama will not help the party, especially if the current trend continues and she has less of a chance of getting the required number of delegates- it will only fracture the democratic party and make it more vulnerable to mccain in nov. please, please, know what you're talking about. it's been all over the news that if clinton continues as long as she says she's going to, it'll only hurt the party, not help it.
Why shouldn't super delegates consider Florida and Mcihigan in their choice? Its not like Obama can wave a magic wand and make Florida and Michigan disappear.
Isn't this sort of thing exactly what these delegates were designed for?
Why do people keep forgetting about Michigan and Florida????/
So because they moved their primaries up early , the voters there shouldn't count.
So their votes shouldn't count in the National Election either?
SLAX YOU MUST BE CRAZY , ANYONE WHO DOESNT SEE HILLARY IS THE EASIER CHOICE FOR THE REPS ARE SILLY.
IF HILLARY WANTS TO WIN, OBAMA WOULD HAVE TO BE HER VP, OTHERWISE SHE WILL LOSE BADLY
I will vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. It is selfish enough of his supporters to ask Hillary to back off. In the start of the election campaign, Hillary was the first choice after those media and actors including singers poisoned the young voters who do not care!
" I think what we as americans should think about if MRS. Clinton couldn,t take care of her own house what make us think she could take care of the WHITE HOUSE!!!!!
Let Obama wins the Democratic race, so he'll challenge John McCain. If this happens, my wish is for Al Gore to enter the race as an Independent candidate. Am sure Americans need one alternative candidate, and who else is more appropriate than Al Gore?
If the super delegates must vote the way their states voted then what is the point of super delegates anyway???? Might as well just do away with the super delegates!
For all of the Hillary supporters who keep saying she's won all the big states, big deal. Those states are democratic states. Obama will win them handily for sure. His margins and the turnout in the predominantly white, Republican states are much more impressive.
The bottom line is that we are screwed as a party if this goes on any further. Hillary can only win by going negative and all it does is fracture our unity even more. And the fact that she is so smug and happy about going negative and whiny about the press makes her a terribly unattractive candidate for President, even if Obama wasn't her opponent.
Say no to dynastic politics people!!
Why doesn't CNN just say they want Obama to win...?
Put some credablilty back in the news...
If Hillary wins this, I vote Mccain. I'm gonna take her advice and go with the most experienced.
One democrat vote lost for Hillary.
Mccain 08
How dare anyone tell Hillary what to do. Had I contributed money and worked on her campaign I would be angry if she threw in the towel before rthen end when it is so close. We shouldn't obsess over the super delegates. The rules are the rules we should let the battle run its course and let us all hope for who we want to win.
It seems like Obama supporters think she should be a polite little girl and step down. How old fashioned sexist. If she has the steam she should fight for those of us who want her in. She is not a distant second. The media should not encourage an early quit because it has anxiety about nothing else to talk about.
If the primary used to begin so much later in the year we are way ahead in terms of time to plan strategy against McCain and
Kimberly, you are obviously Hillary's ah. The reason they had to keep those polling stations open later is because they ran out of ballots so they had to ask a judge to give the order to have stations stay open.
You should get your facts straight b4 submitting your stupid ignorant comments on any blog.
THE POLLS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACES - THEY'RE INCONSISTENT. TAKE A FEW MORE AND YOU'LL SEE DIFFERENT RESULTS.
Could someone explain if Texas voters can vote in both the primary and the Caucus? Please do it on the air. How can they prevent people voting in both?
could it be that Sen. Clinton does not want to release their joint tax return because questions would have to be answered about the income from China speeches. Close tie in to NAFTA?
I agree with the other posters who have commented on the CNN bias towards Obama. This article is a good example. It is a sad state of affairs–I trust what I read here as little as I trust what I hear on Fox news.
"Yes we can take sides."
Super delegates are free to vote how they want. Those are the rules in this primary. If people don't like that, they should change the rules before the next election starts.
I SURE WISH SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN THE CLINTONS CAMPAIGN WOULD EXPLAIN THIS TO HILLARY!! SHE IS IMATURE AND UNREASONABLE. SHE REALLY IS THE PERFECT PRINCESS. SHE IS THE ONE LIVING IN A FAIRY TALE!!
Are you sure Senator Hillary Clinton will be answering that phone in the White House at 3:00am or will it be liar, cheating Bill? If Hillary wins the nomination I refuse to vote in the November General Election, I'll stay home and that will be a first for me in 35 years.
so when shillary tries to steal florida and michigan votes, will it be called "deleGATE" or "DelegateGATE"?
Why should Hilary drop out because that bozo Huckabee stayed in much longer than he should have? The Republican race was never close. The Democratic race is still so close either one could still take it. Wouldn't it be great for a change if the people in the last few states could make a real difference rather than be superfluous. More people could be interested in actually voting this year.
Do over in Florida and Michigan so we can end the bickering. This is the only fair way to declare a winner. This time both dems will be allowed to campaign.
ANYTHING BUT MCCAIN. (100 YEAR WAR)
The delegates in Florida and Mich should not be seated. Those state legislatures agreed to hold the primaries early and those are the people who should be held accountable when they campaign for re-election. Both states would have had a much bigger role in nominating the next Dem for President had they just held their primaries when scheduled. I also resent some of the Hillary supporters who laugh us off as groupies and concert goers. I did my homework and decided for myself that Obama is by far the better candidate. Should Hillary win the nomination, don't forget that Hillary will need our votes to beat McCain in Nov. I would never suggest that Hillary or Obama just pull out for the good of the party, but this mudslinging by Hillary must stop or she will lose Obama supporters in the end. Remember, the GOP aren't just going to roll over and hand Hillary the keys to the WH cause she's been vetted already.