Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News

They've never mattered very much.

In fact, they didn't even exist before the 1970s, and in 2004, their votes were drowned out by a chorus of caucusers and primary-goers.

But in this election, the superdelegates of the Democratic Party have the potential to hand-pick the next U.S. president, said 2000 Truman graduate Danny Rotert, communications director for Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Kansas City. Cleaver is one of Missouri's 16 superdelegates, and he pledged his vote last August for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"The idea [is] that whoever wins the nomination will do it on the back of the superdelegates," Rotert said. "No one can get the nomination without the superdelegates at this point."

The term "superdelegates" is not officially in use by the Democratic Party, which prefers "unpledged party leaders and elected official delegates," according to 2006 documents from the Democratic National Committee. Although in some states, the Republican Party uses a similar process, it does not in Missouri - so "superdelegate" refers to Democrats only.

Here's how it works in Missouri: Democratic primary-goers elect delegates to carry their votes to the national convention in August. These pledged delegates must vote like the people from their districts. But in addition to the 72 pledged delegates, the state of Missouri contributes 16 PLEO delegates, or superdelegates, whose choices are not governed by the votes of Missouri primary-goers - they can support whoever they want.

"Are they supposed to vote

their consciences?"

Rotert said the Democratic Party is in the midst of broad discussion on superdelegates, who comprise about one-fifth of all delegates and who have political experience and understand campaign momentum.

"There's a debate that's happening now party-wide on the Democratic side on what is the role of superdelegates?" he said. "Are they supposed to mirror their districts and their state? Or are they supposed to vote their consciences?"

Some, like Cleaver, already have announced their support for either Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama. Cleaver voted his conscience, so to speak. The majority in both his Congressional district and the state of Missouri cast their ballots for Obama.

Rotert said the fact that Cleaver, who is black, has been pressured to endorse Obama has led him to question race politics today.

"With the challenges both abroad and at home, whoever is president is going to inherit a mess," Rotert said. "[Cleaver believes Clinton] is best prepared to deal with what will be a daunting task. ... Are people actually saying that Congressman Cleaver, because he's black, should vote for Sen. Obama because he's black?"

Continued...

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