The story you're missing on superdelegates

Their duty is to pick the Democrat who can win.

from the March 26, 2008 edition

Page 2 of 2

Page 1 | 2

We know that there will be more focus on policy differences than there is in a primary, where voters often have the luxury of picking on personality. We know that in 2008, the economy, healthcare, and security are likely to be the top issues for voters. And we know that recent GOP wins have been built upon inroads with three groups: Latinos, so-called security moms, and working-class whites.

Clinton's campaign must continue to demonstrate that she has the substance – the Clinton track record on the economy, her nuanced command of foreign policy – and the strength with key demographics that will be necessary to win the general election, especially in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

There has been an inordinate amount of handwringing about the superdelegates among Democratic activists and the punditry:

"Oh no," they lament. "The unelected superdelegates are going to make the call. No one imagined this nightmare scenario when they created these party rules!"

Hogwash. There is no reason to assume that the prospect of a virtual tie in pledged delegates didn't occur to the designers of the system. Indeed, it is precisely in a case like this that having superdelegates makes sense. The purpose of such a format is to help the Democratic Party choose the best candidate when one has not been convincingly rendered by the primaries and caucuses.

When the superdelegates inevitably act as a tiebreaker, there may be outcries from either side that the result is undemocratic. But it's important to remember that this is not an election; it is the mechanism by which a voluntary association – the party – selects a candidate.

The primary system need not be democratic – thankfully, else we'd have to reject caucuses. The solitary objective is to produce the best Democratic candidate: a person who represents Democratic values and, critically, who can win the real election in November.

It may be politically difficult for superdelegates to bracket consideration of pledged delegates, but their hopefully principled commitment to the Democratic Party demands that they do so. After all, Obama has staked his campaign in part on reminding us that judgment certainly doesn't mean following the crowd.

As voters and caucusgoers, we have supported the person we believe in. Superdelegates have a special duty: As party leaders, they must set aside the passions of the moment, draw upon their experience and their judgment, and choose a candidate who can win and who can govern.

• Daniel Baer is a faculty fellow at the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics at Harvard. He is a supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

1 | Page 2