What Is a Super-Delegate Democrat?
The idea of appointing "super-delegates" to Democratic National Conventions grew out of Democratic nominee George McGovern's super-defeat in 1972. Its purpose was to inject mainstream influence into the Democratic presidential nomination process.
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Appointment
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Super-delegates make up about 40 percent of the delegation, and, according to the Democratic Party by-laws, they are active and former Democratic officials, including presidents, vice presidents, leaders of Congress and party chairmen, as well as sitting Democratic members of Congress and governors.
Safety Valve
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According to a 2007 MSNBC article, super-delegates are expected to lend "establishment stability" to the nomination process, diminishing the convention's chance of nominating an unelectable candidate with "radical" views.
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Un-Pledged
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Though super-delegates are considered "un-pledged" to a particular candidate, they often make their preferences known before the convention, giving their chosen candidates pre-convention momentum.
The Jimmy Carter Phenomenon
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Super-delegates' politically mainstream votes are also supposed to prevent, according to MSNBC, what Northeastern University political scientist William Mayer calls the "Jimmy Carter phenomenon"--the nomination of a relatively unknown, inexperienced candidate.
History
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Before 1972, powerful party bigwigs, like Chicago's Richard Daley, held sway over the convention. The party then changed convention rules to allow more participation by grass roots organizations, women and minorities. The result was McGovern's nomination. Rather than reverting to "machine" politics, the party decided to give elected officials a larger voice at the convention.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Steve Jurvetson
