Pennsylvania or Bust, Maybe

The last words of Bobby Kennedy may not have been, “Now it’s on to Pennsylvania, and let’s win there,” but they seem to be the words of both of the remaining present Democratic Party candidates. Although there are other states like Mississippi and Wyoming that will have their primaries before April, Pennsylvania is the largest state. It has the most pledge delegates and perhaps will decide who will win the Democratic Party nomination. Or will it?

With the race at almost a dead heat, it seems that no matter who wins the upcoming primaries, neither Obama nor Clinton will be able to achieve the number of delegates needed to take them over the top. So then the real competition is going to be the grab for the super-delegates. A position that many people thought the party would not get to.

At the beginning of the primaries, the super-delegates were seen as the old guard. They were looked at as old party stalwarts who would bring the historic roots and past glories of the Democrats to the convention. They were people who would also bring unity to the party and legitimize the party nominee. But not now. Not any more. Now they are seen as the trump cards that each of the candidates needs desperately if they intend to face the Republican nominee in the General Election.

There are 842 super-delegates or approximately one fifth of the party’s total delegate number. They consist of current and former elected office holders and party officials and will be sat automatically at the convention in Denver.

Some super-delegates have already declared who they will support at the convention. Delegates like Reps. Barbara Boxer and John Lewis have already stated that they believe their influence and responsibility is due to the electorate. Therefore they will support whomever their districts have voted for. While others like Kerry, Kennedy and maybe even Rendell will vote for who they believe will be best for the party and ultimately the country.

By the way, speaking of Kennedy, when John-John, his nephew, was missing all those years ago, didn’t Clinton send out half of the Atlantic fleet looking for him? And now he supports Obama? That’s gratitude for you. It just goes to show there is no love lost or won when it comes to politics. That’s why it’s a beautiful thing.

So the big fight will be for the super-delegates, the ones that haven’t declared what side of the spectrum that they will fall. This will be where we will see how each candidate’s political machine will work. There will be the no holds barred Clinton establishment tried and tested one of 16-20 years ago, against the one of a newer generation, of freedom and hope for a better tomorrow belonging to Obama.


So I take back my previous prediction of California being the decision maker for the party. Like every good boxing match in the 9th round, I think we really have no idea how this fight is going to turn out. We shall all have to wait for August and the 12th round for a decision by the judges; judges who will have their own interests to look after as well as the interests of the party and then the electorate.

My, ain’t politics grand?