Caucus & Delegate Updates

2-7-08 UPDATE: The Denver Post had a good article about the presidential nominating process and the difference between delegates and "super-delegates". It went through the more recent history of this process since 1968. Essentially, delegates are chosen by popular vote, either at a caucus or by primary and those votes are considered binding. This means the delegates have to vote the will of the voters by percentage. I represent a vote for Hillary Clinton and I can not change that vote because it's not MY vote to change. Super-delegates have direct party connections are NOT chosen by popular vote, therefore their votes CAN change. Since the race for the democratic nomination is rather tight, the people who are super-delegates will be directly (and personally) contacted by the candidates or their people to try to sway those votes. This is because they could choose to back a candidate other than the one who actually won the majority of the popular vote. Their votes combined with the "losing" candidates regular delegate votes could change the outcome of the state's nomination. Read more here: Denver Post 2-7-08 (until the article is no longer available). But again, this is just to NOMINATE the Democratic Presidential Candidate. We still get to vote for the actual president later. Of course, that will lead to the ongoing Electoral College debate (which is similar, but different from the delegate debate).

2-6-08 UPDATE: The caucus system is WAY older than primaries, but is not a substitute for the presidential election in November (we still ultimately get to vote on a ballot for the President). Both the caucus system and the primary system are for the division of delegates. Delegates are people chosen to attend the state assembly to vote for the NOMINEE for their party to run in the Presidential Election. In most state's primary vote, each party "spends" it's votes in proportion to the way the vote went. In the caucus system, the ACTUAL delegates go to the assembly to vote and I haven't determined this yet, but I think it's possible I would be allowed to change my vote from Clinton to Obama if I wanted to do so. And for sure, if there are uncommitted delegates, they can vote at the assembly which ever way they want based on who remains in the running for their party.