Unique to '08: Superdelegates, Internet

Publication: Dallas Morning News

Karen Brooks
May 3, 2008

AUSTIN - Presidential superdelegates have gone unnoticed by the general public for decades, mostly a blip on the screen of Democratic nominations that are decided long before the 795 party stalwarts enter the picture to cast their largely ceremonial votes.

But their sudden status as the deciders in an election year marked by historic online organizing finds them the target of a cadre of virtual pesterers who lean on them from cyberspace.

"I get them every day. Tons and tons of e-mails," said David Hardt of Dallas, an uncommitted superdelegate and president of the Young Democrats of America. Some of the e-mails read like they're directed from a campaign or Web site, he said, and some are long, drawn-out and nasty.

"Someone sent me an e-mail saying, 'Don't let your dog out at night.' "

Web sites like LobbyDelegates.com make it easy for users to click a link and send a fax, letter or e-mail. The Superdelegate Transparency Project is a network of Web sites that seeks to inform users of everything from whom the superdelegates support to where they live, how to reach them by cellphone, and how their districts are voting. Groups like MoveOn.org and Color of Change are busy with online petitions, while the campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton regularly send out e-mail to the delegates.

Using the Internet to organize and educate voters has already become an integral part of this election. But it's now vital for anyone who even hopes to catch the attention of the superdelegates in time to matter.

Party leaders want the uncommitted delegates to announce their decisions soon to avoid a brokered convention in August.

 

It wasn't until February that voters and activists realized superdelegates could wind up making the decision for them within a few months - a time constraint that limited the effectiveness of regular mailers or simple organizing techniques.

The Internet suddenly became crucial in educating voters on who the superdelegates are and helping to lobby them with sophisticated arguments that the average voter may never have needed to consider.

"We're saying, let's give the people some power, or at least a voice to inject their two cents into the superdelegates" issue, said Ken Laureys, a founder of LobbyDelegates.com, which lets users send letters, e-mails or faxes from its Web site. "Most of them are elected officials and they have constituents, so even though they have the right to vote whichever way, they can't totally discount what the constituents have to say."

The Internet also breaks what James Rucker, founder of the black advocacy group Color of Change, called a "psychological barrier" many people have to lobbying their members of Congress: Shyness or inability to effectively articulate their answers.

People can go to his Web site, click a link and then sign an online petition and add comments addressed to their member of Congress.

"Even making a phone call takes a little more effort," said Mr. Rucker, whose group is lobbying members of the Congressional Black Caucus. "Being able to click on the link and go to a page and make a comment you know is going to be put in front of your member of Congress is an empowering thing."

Color of Change has collected some 25,000 signatures and delivered them to about half a dozen members of the caucus - all superdelegates. They're being urged to vote their districts, which typically go for Mr. Obama.

On the group's hit list is U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee from Houston, whose office was well aware of the communication from Color of Change in recent weeks. Ms. Lee, who supports Mrs. Clinton in spite of heavy Obama support in her district, didn't return calls seeking comment.

Austin City Council member Brewster McCracken - who as a politician is used to pressure from the public - signed an online petition after he was approached on Facebook, an online social networking tool. The activist told him the Clinton campaign was heavily lobbying superdelegates in spite of trailing in the popular vote.

Both campaigns have been actively pushing the superdelegates toward their own camps.

"I signed it because I believe very strongly that the superdelegates should honor the will of a majority of the delegates selected through primaries and caucuses," Mr. McCracken said. "As an elected official, it does get my attention when I receive a lot of e-mails, although I make an assessment each time I get a lot of e-mails about the authenticity of the e-mail campaign."