| (CF) |
Welcome to this month's chat! I'm pleased to have so many people joining me this time. We'll talk about delegates, but if there are other issues you want to bring up please feel free.
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| (Q) |
how many delegates will be representing S.C.?
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| (A) |
SC has a total of 54 delegates and 8 alternates to the convention in Denver. That's the same number we've had for several cycles.
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| (Q) |
Carol there's been a lot of rumors going around about the Superdelegates. Is it true that they get two votes?
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| (A) |
No--at the Democratic National Convention every delegate, no matter what kind, gets one vote. All our delegates are equal.
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| (Q) |
Are the delegates pre-selected?
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| (A) |
No. 8 of our delegates are automatic because they hold particular offices--those are the so-called superdelegates. The rest will be elected at our state convention in May.
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| (Q) |
How many slots are already filled by officers and super delegates?
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| (A) |
8
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| (Q) |
Why, when the Democratic party is enjoying a resurgance, do we now find out that all the voting we have done is for naught and that a few priviledged people.....800 to be exact will determine who our candidate will be. This is bothersome to me.
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| (A) |
The nomination has always been done by the over 4000 delegates at the national convention. Every one of them is chosen by Democrats to represent their views.
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| (Q) |
Are you going to explain the process and where we are at this time or should we just ask questions?
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| (A) |
I'll give you a brief summary. For more, you can go to the website and look at "If you want to be a delegate. The first step in our process was the primary. The candidates were awarded delegates based on the vote they got that day, but they actual delegates will be elected at our state convention on May 3. The next step was the precinct meetings--they were this past Saturday. Those meetings chose delegates to the county conventions in March. The county conventions will elect delegates to the state convention. That day, we will elect 25 delegates pledged to vote for Obama, 12 pledged to Clinton, and 8 pledged to Edwards.
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| (Q) |
How do you become a delegate to the state convention?
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| (A) |
See the previous answer. But if you didn't go to your precinct meeting, there's still a chance. Call your county Democratic chair and ask if your precinct filled all its delegate and alternate slots. Most didn't. The people in your precinct can still add you to their list.
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| (Q) |
How many slots are left for regular delegates?
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| (A) |
45
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| (Q) |
Is there a protocal for superdelegates casting their vote...do they come together and have discussion, or is it just an election per say in which the superdelegates vote exclusively?
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| (A) |
THey don't ever discuss it unless they just happen to be talking to one another. They each make up their own minds. They don't all vote alike.
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| (Q) |
Hello everyone! Can you go to the State Convention without going to the County Convention? I'd like to go to both but will be travelling on the day of our Anderson Co. Convention.
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| (A) |
If you are a delegate or alternate to the county convention you don't actually have to attend to be elected a state delegate. But it's harder to get chosen when the people who are at the county convention don't know to vote for you.
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| (Q) |
How many will be elected at state convention in May?
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| (A) |
45
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| (Q) |
You're having one more training session on being a delegate. Will there be more?
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| (A) |
Probably not, but if enough people want one I'm happy to do it.
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| (Q) |
Does one have to have a "following" going into the state convention? We have moved recently to SC and would not have support in the area.
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| (A) |
Every time we elect delegates there are some who are chosen who have never participated before. Obviously if you're well known it might be a little easier, but some people work hard at campaigning for it, and get themselves elected. It helps if you worked hard for one of the presidential candidates, as they have a lot to say about who represents them.
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| (Q) |
I went to my precinct meeting and was elected a delegate. What's the chance that I could become a delegate to county and state conventions from there?
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| (A) |
I'd say it's usually not too hard to be a delegate or alternate to the state convention--counties have a pretty good number to elect, and if you let people at your county convention know that you want to go they'll vote for you. It's harder to get elected to the national convention because we don't have that many slots, but it's not impossible.
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| (Q) |
What's the relationship between the 4000 and the 800?
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| (A) |
Not sure what you mean--they're all in the same room and each gets one vote. The 800 are part of the 4000.
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| (Q) |
So how do you become nominated to be a delegate?
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| (A) |
You have to let people know that you want to run! You have to be a delegate or alternate to your county convention and to the state convention. After you are elected from your county to the state you have to file a form with the state party by April 4. Look on the website at "If you want to be a delegate."
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| (Q) |
How are delegates to the state convention chosen?
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| (A) |
THey are elected at county conventions in March.
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| (Q) |
How many total delegates are there?
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| (A) |
4,362 from all the states and territories
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| (CF) |
Lots of people are asking how delegates are selected--I think I've answered that, or you can look at the website.
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| (Q) |
Are these 4000 delegates chosen by the same process as what is going on now?
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| (A) |
yes. It varies a little from state to state, but every state elects their delegates pledged to candidates according to their percentage of the vote in a primary or caucus.
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| (Q) |
how do you find out who your chair is?
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| (A) |
Look up your county on the website, and you should find the contact info.
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| (Q) |
After the primaries are over, will one of the two candidates have enough votes to get the nomination?
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| (A) |
Probably.
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| (Q) |
why are a percentage of delegates chosen by race and gender?
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| (A) |
IN the Democratic Party we have a rule that half our delegates must be men and half women. WE also have a goal of electing minorities, etc, so that our convention delegates are representative of the people who vote for our Democratic candidates.
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| (Q) |
When you say worked hard- would that include calling for the candidate in other states, etc?
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| (A) |
Sure
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| (Q) |
Back earlier in the chat, someone said the ultimate decision would be made by exactly 800. You had previously mentioned 4000 making the decision.
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| (A) |
I don't know who said it would be 800. There will be 4362 votes cast at the convention.
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| (Q) |
Will we know before the county meeting that we are on the ballot for the state convention?
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| (A) |
In some larger counties there is an actual ballot and you have to let them know ahead of time that you want to be on it. In smaller counties they just choose from the folks who are there and say they want to be delegates. To be sure how it works in your county please call your county chair.
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| (Q) |
Carol, for the delegates that have pledged to vote for the candidates who are no longer in the race (Edwards and Hillary if she's smart), will they "redistribute" their votes?
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| (A) |
If the candidate isn't in the race at the time of the convention, his or her delegates will vote for whoever they wish.
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| (Q) |
I attended the precinct meeting and I am going to the county convention. I went last year and went to the state convention. I just don't remember that we had to be selected from the county. I am in York County. How would this county process work?
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| (A) |
Every 2 years the counties have conventions and choose delegates. Those delegates get to go to 2 state conventions because there's a state convention every year. You were probably elected in 2006 and went in 2006 and 2007 to the state. If you're chosen from your county this year you'll serve again in 2009 without having to be re-elected.
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| (Q) |
This may be premature but what are we going to do to promote the same kind of turnout in the general election that we had in the primary?
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| (A) |
Everything humanly possible! Please get involved with your county party and help work on this.
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| (Q) |
Donna: How can we participate in the convention if we are not fortunate enough to fill one of the limited delegate positions?
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| (A) |
I assume you mean the national convention--there are a limited number of volunteer opportunities that we will post on our website.
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| (Q) |
Sorry. Just joining in. I am so excited by the turnout in the primary and want to be part of the change. Is there any possibility that a Dem will win in SC this November? Real possibility.
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| (A) |
There's always a chance, and I've never seen SC Democrats this excited about an election
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| (Q) |
I know this is way ahead of time, but I've always been curious about the national delegation - who will lead the delagation?
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| (A) |
The delegates and alternates will meet after they're elected and selected a chair for the delegation. That person will conduct delegation meetings and have some other responsibilities.
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| (Q) |
Carol, what if the candidate(s) do(does) not relinquish his/her delegates, choosing to hold on to them until the national convention. How would delegates representing such candidates respond at the national level?
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| (A) |
Those delegates will be pledged to that candidate, but when they get to the convention they will be free to vote for whoever they want if their candidate is no longer running. The candidate can't make them vote a particular way.
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| (Q) |
I always enjoy the Jefferson-Jackson dinner the night before the state convention. Who will be the main speaker there this year?
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| (A) |
Thanks--that's always a great event. We're working right now to get a speaker. If anyone has a suggestion let me know!
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| (Q) |
How does one know which delegates are Edwards vs Clinton vs Obama? They are just numbers, not people.
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| (A) |
They're really just delegate slots right now, but on May 3 we will elect the actual people who will fill those slots. They'll be regular Democrats from across SC.
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| (Q) |
Based on previous elections, how often do pledged delegates transfer their vote? For instance, if Obama continues his lead, should be expect many of Clinton's majority of delegates to change their vote?
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| (A) |
That would depend on whether she is still in the race or has stopped her active campaign. Most delegates would stick with their candidate as long as they are still in the race. That's one of the reasons the candidates have a say in who is elected a delegate to represent them. They need to be sure their delegates will stick with them.
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| (Q) |
All SC House and Senate seats are up for election in 2008. What kind of impact do you think the Presidential race might have on the results of those elections?
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| (A) |
It could have a big impact, because there's always a greater turnout in a presidential election than at any other time. People who turn out to vote for our nominee whether it's Clinton or Obama will also vote for our House and Senate candidates in most cases.
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| (Q) |
On the slot designation (which delegates represent which candidates), are the delegates "told" at the state convention who they represent? Are the actual people likely to be those who support that candidate (or supported)?
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| (A) |
To run for national delegate you have to say which candidate you support and run for one of that candidate's slots.
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| (Q) |
There's been a lot of talk about the return to smoke filled rooms. How will that fit into the overall process? If there are delegates pledged to Edwards, will that be "negotiated" by deal-makers?
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| (A) |
I don't think there will be any such thing--I think having a bunch of old cigar-smoking white guys choose our nominee will never happen again. As to the Edwards delegates, they will be free to choose another candidate at the convention. He might or might not encourage them to vote a certain way, but he can't make them.
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| (Q) |
Does that mean that the Democrats are actually going to challenge every elected position an not let the Republicans just get in unapposed?
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| (A) |
We are trying hard to find candidates for every position. Sometimes it's not possible to find a credible Democratic candidate in a very Republican district, even in a good year for Democrats. But we're trying. Interested in running for something?
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| (Q) |
If the election ticket of the Sc Governor and Lt. Gov. are combined, will the Election Candidacy Filing Fee $$$ be raised to reflect the 1 % of both salaries combined.
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| (A) |
My understanding of that legislation, which is a very long way from passing, is that the candidates will run separately in the primary. Then the nominees for gov and lt. gov will run as a ticket for each party--if one wins they both win. The filing fee is paid for the primary so I assume it would be figured separately.
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| (Q) |
How does one become a delegate
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| (A) |
Read some of my earlier answers, or go to the website and look at "If you want to be a Delegate" Or come on Monday at 5:30 to a workshop I'm doing for people who want to run for delegate. I've done 2 so far, and over 100 grassroots Dems have participated to learn how the process works and how they can take part. Email me and we can discuss your candidacy!
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| (Q) |
When is the deadline to file?
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| (A) |
To file for national delegate? April 4. For candidates for office it's March 30. We've been talking about both so I'm not sure which you mean.
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| (Q) |
When and where is the last primary? Where can we find that list?
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| (A) |
The last one is in Puerto Rico--I'm scrambling to find the date. I think it's the first Tuesday in June. NC is one of the last--it's May 6.
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| (Q) |
Thank you. Carol, for holding these chats. They are always informative and a great perk for Yellow Dogs!
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| (A) |
They are fun to do--it's nice to see what's on everyone's mind. This time we opened it up to everyone, not just Yellow Dogs. If you've enjoyed it, go to the website and join the Yellow Dogs! That club is made up of some of our most important supporters.
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| (Q) |
I'd love to see a Democrat challenge Bob Inglis in the 4th.
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| (A) |
Me, too!
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| (Q) |
Carol, I am interested in running for the 10th County Council race here in Horry County. But two things are holding me back. 1.) The Filing Fee I do not have right now in a tight economy. ( mortgage, energy expenses, food, other expenses.) 2.) The HC Dems are known for leaving vacancies on the ballot at election day. I know I can one for the party. What can I do ???
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| (A) |
To be elected you will have to raise some money--you should start by raising enough for the filing fee. Winning candidates just have to swallow their pride and call their friends to ask for contributions! That's an unfortunate part of politics.
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| (Q) |
I was about to type in "Good Luck Edgar", but I must've hit something. Just Good Luck Carol - I hope we Dems make you very, very proud this year.
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| (A) |
THanks!
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| (CF) |
To answer the question about the last process--PR has a caucus on June 7.
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| (CF) |
THanks to all of you who participated tonight. I look forward to chatting again in a few weeks. Don't forget to go to your county convention--if you aren't already a delegate call your county chair and ask if there are vacancies from your precincts. |
