2008 Woodie Awards
The Anonymous Voter
Jamarious Nickerson, Editorial Editor
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Op-Eds
As the 2008 presidential race has gotten more intense, it has become great concern to all American voters. Lately, on the Republican side, many candidates have dropped out including prominent, wealthy individuals such as former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Governor Mitt Romney. Senator John Edwards and Senator Joe Biden also resigned their campaigns for the White House on the Democratic side. The withdrawals of candidates from both parties have left the candidates that remain in the race scrambling to pick up their little leftovers in delegates.
Currently, Senator Barack Obama has taken his place as the Democratic front runner in the presidential race. This comes after having won eight consecutive primaries and caucuses in which he received a boost in delegates that pushed him ahead of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is also important to consider that endorsements from distinguished individuals such as Senator Ted Kennedy (brother of President Kennedy) and Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President Kennedy) have helped alter favorably the leadership qualities of Senator Obama in the eyes of the American people. Yet, though he leads in this manner, it must be greatly considered that he does not have more super delegates than his opponent, Senator Clinton. The fact that he has not obtained leading support among the super delegates could possibly mean that Senator Clinton has a greater chance at receiving the Democratic nomination.
The American political system is full of checks and balances even on the campaign trail. Both the Republican and Democratic candidates are vying for the greatest number of delegates to win their party's nomination for the general election in the fall. The delegates are elected officials whose support the candidates receive in direct proportion to the number of votes that they receive from the American people in each state. Thus, this is why the votes of the American people are so important to the presidential candidates of both parties. On the other hand, super delegates are prominent officials of both parties that are not elected and have no obligation to follow the choice of the American people and delegates. However, some of the super delegates will follow the choice of their constituents. For instance, one super delegate, Rep. David Scott, believes that as a super delegate he must "…vote the wishes of ...Constituents," according to an Associated Press article by David Espo. Unlike Rep. David Scott, (another super delegate) Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has stated in the same Associated Press article that the role of super delegates is to "…use… best judgment to do what's in the best interests of ...Constituents." Primarily, it is clear that America should not misinterpret Senator Obama's lead in delegates as a step away from him winning the Democratic presidential nomination.
Contrary to popular belief, the issue of super delegates is not as complex as it may seem. Super delegates are merely those appointed to balance out the "elections scale" in the best interests of the American people. Such a task is to be deemed secure in the hands of former presidents, local officials, and distinguished former congressmen and congresswomen.
Currently, Senator Barack Obama has taken his place as the Democratic front runner in the presidential race. This comes after having won eight consecutive primaries and caucuses in which he received a boost in delegates that pushed him ahead of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is also important to consider that endorsements from distinguished individuals such as Senator Ted Kennedy (brother of President Kennedy) and Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President Kennedy) have helped alter favorably the leadership qualities of Senator Obama in the eyes of the American people. Yet, though he leads in this manner, it must be greatly considered that he does not have more super delegates than his opponent, Senator Clinton. The fact that he has not obtained leading support among the super delegates could possibly mean that Senator Clinton has a greater chance at receiving the Democratic nomination.
The American political system is full of checks and balances even on the campaign trail. Both the Republican and Democratic candidates are vying for the greatest number of delegates to win their party's nomination for the general election in the fall. The delegates are elected officials whose support the candidates receive in direct proportion to the number of votes that they receive from the American people in each state. Thus, this is why the votes of the American people are so important to the presidential candidates of both parties. On the other hand, super delegates are prominent officials of both parties that are not elected and have no obligation to follow the choice of the American people and delegates. However, some of the super delegates will follow the choice of their constituents. For instance, one super delegate, Rep. David Scott, believes that as a super delegate he must "…vote the wishes of ...Constituents," according to an Associated Press article by David Espo. Unlike Rep. David Scott, (another super delegate) Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has stated in the same Associated Press article that the role of super delegates is to "…use… best judgment to do what's in the best interests of ...Constituents." Primarily, it is clear that America should not misinterpret Senator Obama's lead in delegates as a step away from him winning the Democratic presidential nomination.
Contrary to popular belief, the issue of super delegates is not as complex as it may seem. Super delegates are merely those appointed to balance out the "elections scale" in the best interests of the American people. Such a task is to be deemed secure in the hands of former presidents, local officials, and distinguished former congressmen and congresswomen.
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