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DNC delegates call for reforms in superdelegate process

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The number of Democratic Party superdelegates may shrink significantly in the future.

The overall sense from delegates streaming into the convention center Monday afternoon was that the party needs to rely less on superdelegates to help pick the party’s nominee.

On Saturday, the DNC Rules Committee created a unity reform commission charged with reducing the number of so-called superdelegates by about two-thirds. More than 700 high-level politicians and party bosses serve as superdelegates.

David Bright – donning a hat made out Bernie Sanders beer cans – is a delegate in Maine and feels the change is much-needed.

 

“When the ballot for your state is set, then start looking at the candidates, see if you believe them, and then make your choice," Bright said.

Despite the fact that any approved measure to reduce superdelegate sway wouldn’t take effect until the next election, Bright feels like Sanders still has a chance to become the Democratic Party’s nominee.

Idaho delegate Rick Tousley is skeptical that party bosses will accept the commission’s suggested changes

“The things that are being said are all well and good if in fact the DNC recognizes that there has to be some changes to the superdelegate system," Tousley said.

 

Pete Gertonson is a superdelgate for Idaho.

He feels that the only role of the superdelegates at the convention is to vote for the candidate who will win in November.

“The superdelegate idea is a whistle – it’s a safety valve for our party and one the Republicans wish they had," Gertonson said. "But unfortunately the superdelegates got a little carried away a little over a year ago and pledged their support for one candidate or another and that put a cloud over any nomination: whether it’s Hillary, Mickey Mouse…”

He called for more party unity.

“We’ve got problems in this party, you can’t find a party that doesn’t have problems," Gertonson said. "But now the curtains are starting to open up and they’re saying: look, this is going on? We need to come together and fix it. We all have the same values, we just have different policies. And we need to come together and by Thursday night, fix it. My opinion: Trump means the end of civilization.”

 

Anna Hand is a delegate from Kansas and is mostly in favor of the superdelegate process – - but says she’s happy with the compromise.

 

“I think that maybe the system did need to be reworked," Hand said. "We’re pulling in the states’ opinions now with what they came up with so I think that’s going to be a great way to compromise between the Hillary and Sanders camp.”

 

Sanders, Clinton and the Democratic National Committee will each pick members of the commission.

Sanders supporters are particularly happy with the formation of the commission, with the Vermont Senator a staunch advocate of superdelegate reform. However, some are skeptical the DNC will ultimately approve the unity commission’s recommendation.

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