2008 Woodie Awards
Race remains too close to call for Democrats
John Sweeney
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: News
Despite what has been reported in the media regarding the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential vote, some political science professors think differently. They say Super Tuesday did little to establish a clear Democratic nominee.
While most states already have held their primaries, there has been speculation that a nominee might not be chosen until the national convention this summer.
"I think it is entirely possible, at least on the Democrats' side," Dr. James Renneker, professor of political science, said. "We may not know the nominee until the convention."
Renneker said such an occurrence would seem out of place today, considering Democrats have put rules in place to avoid these types of situations.
Dr. Alissa Warters, assistant professor of political science, said those rules, such as the super delegates instituted in 1970 to guide state delegates and keep split conventions from happening, might end up contributing to the problem. Some delegates, however, are saying that if there is a split convention, their votes should not count.
"(Some super delegates have said) the people need to make the decision, not the elected leaders," Warters said. "…Super delegates are primarily mayors, governors, senators and House members."
She also said most Democrats want to avoid anything that appears to have been done without the consent of the public.
The last time a race was this close for any party was during the 1968 presidential campaign. The Democrats attended their convention that year without a clear nominee, and police intervention was needed to keep convention-goers under control.
As a result, the Republicans won the White House.
Warters thinks a split convention would be detrimental to the Democrats because the time between the primaries and the convention could be breeding grounds for various problems.
If no clear nominee is chosen by June, it would be almost three months until the convention, and Warters said that could be problematic. Though Renneker doesn't think a split convention would cause problems, he thinks infighting before the convention would be a sign of trouble.
"If Clinton and Obama are fighting it out, things start to get a little dirty - they offend somebody…" Renneker said.
While most states already have held their primaries, there has been speculation that a nominee might not be chosen until the national convention this summer.
"I think it is entirely possible, at least on the Democrats' side," Dr. James Renneker, professor of political science, said. "We may not know the nominee until the convention."
Renneker said such an occurrence would seem out of place today, considering Democrats have put rules in place to avoid these types of situations.
Dr. Alissa Warters, assistant professor of political science, said those rules, such as the super delegates instituted in 1970 to guide state delegates and keep split conventions from happening, might end up contributing to the problem. Some delegates, however, are saying that if there is a split convention, their votes should not count.
"(Some super delegates have said) the people need to make the decision, not the elected leaders," Warters said. "…Super delegates are primarily mayors, governors, senators and House members."
She also said most Democrats want to avoid anything that appears to have been done without the consent of the public.
The last time a race was this close for any party was during the 1968 presidential campaign. The Democrats attended their convention that year without a clear nominee, and police intervention was needed to keep convention-goers under control.
As a result, the Republicans won the White House.
Warters thinks a split convention would be detrimental to the Democrats because the time between the primaries and the convention could be breeding grounds for various problems.
If no clear nominee is chosen by June, it would be almost three months until the convention, and Warters said that could be problematic. Though Renneker doesn't think a split convention would cause problems, he thinks infighting before the convention would be a sign of trouble.
"If Clinton and Obama are fighting it out, things start to get a little dirty - they offend somebody…" Renneker said.
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