Clinton Adds a Half Delegate

WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's half delegate has a new friend _ one of equal stature no less.

The Democrats Abroad, a group sanctioned by the national party, has confounded delegate counters, graphic artists and political journalists since it awarded Clinton 1.5 delegates from its global primary last week. How do you explain that Clinton has 1,276.5 delegates?

Explain no more. Clinton picked up a half superdelegate on Wednesday, increasing her overall total to 1,277.

The anomaly happened because the Democrats Abroad will send 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, each with a half vote. The system is designed to enable the group to send more people to the convention, without inflating its voting power.

The global primary, in which expatriates voted by mail, fax and the Internet, awarded nine delegates, with a total of 4.5 votes. Sen. Barack Obama won three delegate votes and Clinton won 1.5.

Democratic parties in U.S. territories use similar systems, in which they send twice the number of delegates, giving them each a half vote. But their systems are designed to ensure that that candidates do not end up with fractions of delegates.

The Democrats Abroad take it a step further. They also have twice the number of superdelegates _ eight _ and they each get a half vote. Superdelegates are elected and party officials who can vote for whomever they choose at the convention, regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

The Associated Press surveyed the Democrats Abroad superdelegates this week and found that four supported Obama and one supported Clinton. That's two votes for Obama, and a half vote for Clinton. The other three had not responded.

Clinton lost a superdelegate to Obama on Wednesday when Rep. John Lewis of Georgia became the fourth one to switch from Clinton to Obama. None have gone the other way, according to the AP tally.

But Clinton replaced Lewis with superdelegate Elizabeth Smith of Washington, who confirmed Wednesday that she will support the New York senator.

That gives Obama 1,375 delegates, to 1,277 for Clinton.

The breakdown:

Pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses: Obama, 1,187; Clinton, 1,035.5.

Superdelegates: Obama, 188; Clinton, 241.5.

It takes 2,025 delegates to claim the Democratic nomination.

Robert Bell, the new half superdelegate for Clinton who lives in Toronto, said he has no problem getting only half a vote at the convention.

"We're not discriminated against in any way," Bell said in a telephone interview.

Bell's endorsement of Clinton, however, is only a temporary solution to the half delegate issue. The Democrats Abroad are scheduled to hold their global convention April 12, when they will award their final 2.5 delegate votes.

___

On the Net:

Democrats Abroad: http://www.demsabroad.org/

Comments

[anghiari]

10:57 AM on 02/28/2008

Yeah, but will that super delegate hang around after learning

If Hillary Clinton wins in 2008 And Bill Clinton is 'appointed' to fill her Senate Seat And either of them live to retire... (together or alone)

they would get...two US Presidential retirement checks, two US Senate retirement checks,and A retirement check from the State of Arkansas .

About the only thing they MIGHT NOT get is... A Social Security Check....

But I wouldn't bet on it.... I understand ole Bill has earned $40,000,000 in the past six years. What a guy! AND THE REST OF THE STORY...

Hillary Clinton, as a New York State Senator, comes under the 'Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan,' which means that even if she never gets re-elected, She STILL receives her Congressional salary until she dies. (Would it not be nice if all Americans Were pension eligible after only 4 years?)

If Bill outlives her, He then inherits HER salary until HE dies.

He is already getting his Presidential salary until he dies.

If Hillary outlives Bill, She also gets HIS salary until she dies. Guess who pays for that?

It's common knowledge that in order for Hillary To establish NY residency, They purchased a million dollar-plus house In upscale Chappaqu, New York. Makes sense! They are entitled to Secret Service protection for life.

Here is where it becomes even more interesting. Their mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month.

BUT, an extra residence 'had' to be built within the acreage to house The Secret Service agents.

The Clintons' charge The Federal government $10,000 monthly rent for the use of that extra residence, which is about equal to their mortgage payment.

This means that we taxpayers,are paying for the Clintons' salaries, mortgage, transportation, and security, as well as the salaries for their 12 person staff -- and, it is all perfectly legal!

[tiredofhillary]

02:31 AM on 02/28/2008

Hillary take your .5 delegate and take your ass home. Enough already. Who guaranteed you the white house?
They should have told the rest of the country.

[eshalom]

09:23 AM on 02/28/2008

Your abusive, vulgar language is typical for an Obama supporter on this message board. The messiah must be proud of all of his vicious little online attack dogs.

[bdul26]

04:03 PM on 02/28/2008

Wait a minute, this person never said they were an Obama supporter.

[tiredofhillary]

02:30 AM on 02/28/2008

Hillary take your .5 delegate and take your ass home. Enough already. Who guaranteed you the white house?
They should have told the rest of the country.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

01:41 AM on 02/28/2008

TIME TO REBOOT AMERICA!

[gevan]

11:56 PM on 02/27/2008

Just tell me why the Democrats Abroad have ANY super delegates? Do they represent the governor or senators or representative of the Democrats Abroad? I think not.