Superdelegate Decision Making during the 2008 Democratic Primaries

• Published in: Politics & policy (Statesboro, Ga.) Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 680 - 703
• Main Authors: Galdieri, Christopher J., Parsneau, Kevin, Granberg-Rademacker, J. Scott
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2012; Policy Studies Organization; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 2008 Presidential Nomination; Barack Obama; Candidates; Clinton, Hillary; Clinton, Hillary (Rodham); Competition; Decision making; Decision-making, Group; Delegates; Democratic Primaries; Elite; Females; Hillary Clinton; Influence; Loyalty; Methods; Nomination; Nominations; Obama, Barack; Opinion Polls; Party Elites; Political behaviour; Political parties; Political support; Presidents; Press; Primaries; Primary Elections; Superdelegate Endorsements; Superdelegates; U.S.A; United States

The race for superdelegate support during the extended competition between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination offers a unique opportunity to examine the behavior of party elites with regard to their party's rank and file. The choice and timing of su...