Clinton backers: Listen to ‘wiser heads’
approximately 712 superdele- gates, the group also includes “distinguished party leaders” like former Presidents and congressional leaders.
The complicated system has come under fire by many voters who wish their party would just listen to their expressed desires.
But many prominent supporters of the former secretary of state have defended the system, including a 2016 superdelegate who himself is backing Clinton.
“Superdelegates have a role. It’s a small role compared to the elected delegates, but there is a role. There should be a balance, and that’s what (the system) has,” Ed Rendell, a former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Pennsylvania governor, told The News on Wednesday.
“We’re trying to field the strongest candidate we can in the fall. There ought to be some party elders, by virtue of their past achievements . . . who have input in that process,” Rendell said. “Wiser heads.”
Even Rendell, a Clinton backer who said he would only consider switching his allegiance to Sanders if the Vermont senator somehow overtook his rival in the overall popular vote, admitted the system isn’t perfect.
Also among the “distinguished party leader” superdelegates this year is Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton.
“Some kind of rule (that would pro- hibit) overt conflict of interest would be good,” Rendell said.
“This year, I mean it’s only one real situation that pertains to, but I would have no problem with (a rule) like that,” he added, referencing the obvious conflict posed by the former commander-inchief’s position as a superdelegate to his wife’s White House run.
Nevertheless, Rendell — like the half dozen New York State superdelegates The News interviewed on Tuesday — said the chances of him ever abandoning his support for Clinton were nearly zero.
“I base my decision on three things,” he
said. “Who has most pledged delegates nationwide, who has the highest share of the popular vote throughout the primaries and the caucuses, and who I would believe would be the best candidate to win in the fall.”
“Ms. Clinton wins all three,” Rendell added. “So there it is.”
Unless Clinton loses by big margins in some of the delegaterich primaries that are coming up — such as New York and California — she’ll remain on course to win the nomination.
And what if Sanders somehow passed Clinton in the pledged delegate count — a possible but unlikely outcome?
“I’d still support her,” Rendell said. “The popular vote is more important, anyway.” ways we Democrats pick our strongest candidate against Donald Trump is heresy — superdelegates. Putting aside that even without superdelegates in the mix, Hillary still holds a commanding lead and that precedent tells us that whomever wins this nomination will almost certainly win the nomination by acclamation at the convention, this idea that the other politicians running on a slate with the President should not have a big say on who their running mate should be is silly.
The way we choose our candidate is imperfect. I have my beefs, too. But as I describe above, there is a method to the madness and we have a pretty good record of success. One thing I can promise — the Republicans wish they had the Democrats’ rules nowadays.