Feb 14, 2008 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Meet The Tri-State Area Superdelegates
Many Are Committed To Clinton, But For How Long?
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is one of New York's 45 super delegates.
AP
If the Democratic presidential primary stays as tight as it is, neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama will be able to win without the support of the super delegates.
There are almost 800 super delegates in play and both candidates are actively wooing them.
Here's a startling fact: If the Democratic presidential race does come down to a vote of the super delegates, Clinton can vote for herself.
Clinton is one of 45 super delegates from New York, a list that has a lot of familiar – and pro-Hillary – faces.
Former President Bill Clinton, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Patterson, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Anthony Weiner, Rep. Jerrold Nadler and teachers' union president Randi Weingarten are just a few.
So what exactly is a super delegate? Well, they're mostly elected officials and party leaders who automatically get to go to the nominating convention.
"I get phone calls," Ralph Dawson said.
He get lots of phone calls because Dawson is a rare breed in these parts, a super delegate who isn't committed to either Clinton or Obama. Both sides want him. Bad.
"They're preaching the virtues of the two remaining candidates and there are a lot of virtues to both so I listen and I tell them I'm not quite ready to make a decision yet," Dawson said.
The tri-state area has 74 super delegates:
* New York has 45, of which 39 are for Clinton, 1 for Obama and 5 who are uncommitted.
* New Jersey has 18, of which 12 are for Clinton, 1 for Obama and 5 who are uncommitted.
* Connecticut has 11, of which 1 is for Clinton, 6 are for Obama and 4 who are uncommitted.
"There are lots of persuasive arguments," Dawson said. "Most of the people I've talked with have been very good spokespersons for their respective campaigns."
Democratic Party officials tell CBS 2 HD they'd rather not have the super delegates vote, because that leaves the impression of a brokered convention.
There is also a new sign of trouble for Clinton. Late Thursday, one of her Congressional supporters, Rep. David Scott of Georgia now says he intends to vote for Obama and a second is discussing a possible switch. Both are super delegates.
This comes after a handful of other super delegates said they are reconsidering their positions.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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