Dear Editor,
In his letter captioned “Clinton has 232 delegates, Obama 152,” Mr Vishnu Bisram disputed my claim that Obama has amassed more delegates from the four contests (Iowa, New Hamsphere, Nevada, and South Carolina). The fact is that Obama has won more delegates in the four primaries and caucuses (Mr Obama has 63 elected delegates while Mrs Clinton has 48).
The figures quoted by Mr. Bisram include what is called “superdelegates.” Super-delegates (some 796) are prominent elected party officials and other party activists who have the power to vote as they please. Superdelegates include all Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, members of the Democratic National Committee, mayors, and former congressional leaders. The votes of these superdelegates are only officially recorded when the Democratic Party holds its convention. At the moment some 300 superdelegates have committed (but could later change their minds) and has given the edge to Clinton, staking her to an overall lead in delegates though Obama has won more delegates in primaries and caucuses (which is fixed and cannot be changed). If Clinton and Obama end up nearly tied when they reach the convention, the superdelegates do, in fact, end up with the power to decide the party’s nominee.
The race is still a long way from being decided because the winning candidate needs 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Urling
