Superdelegates play star role this year, says Vanderbilt campaign expert

Despite what seems like an exhaustive and never-ending primary season for the Democratic presidential candidates, the process actually worked, says Distinguished Professor of Political Science John Geer. The race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has essentially come down to a tie, and the superdelegates are fulfilling their role.

"The superdelegates’ job is to break ties, and that is what they are doing in favor of Senator Obama," said Geer, whose books include Nominating Presidents and In Defense of Negativity. "Many voters may be frustrated by this process, especially those who support Senator Clinton.However, ties are never easy to break and always leave some significant set of people unhappy.Just remember the last time there was a tie in a national election.That was 2000 in the state of Florida, and it was the U.S. Supreme Court that broke that tie."

Geer, who teaches and writes about campaigns, elections and public opinion, believes that it is far better to let the leaders of the Democratic Party make the call than throw it to the courts, which rarely face much accountability."These Democratic superdelegates are well informed about the candidates and what is at stake," he said. "In addition, many are accountable to the public, since they will face their own election in the near future."

Geer noted that it has taken 24 years for the superdelegates to come into play, but the Democratic leadership has to be pleased to have this provision."Without the superdelegates, the closely contested battle surely would have continued and a bloodbath would have taken place in Denver.Now the party has time to rally behind Senator Obama and prepare for the fall campaign against Senator John McCain."

[Editor’s note: John Geer can be reached by email at john.g.geer@vanderbilt.edu.]

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