tomorrow.  Some may be suprised to see my name associated with a diary so entitled.  But I figured it would be good to get this out of the way early b/c I know it's coming and use it as a means to ask a question.

An excellent website, DemConWatch (which I cannot endorse enough; the reporting is beyond any other news source, including the AP) has developed a chart to track the selection of add-on superdelegates.  Some may not of heard of this term, b/c the media has constantly refered to the superdelegates, but rarely says how they are selected.  Add-on superdelegates are selected at state, county and district conventions or by the Executive Committee of the state party.  

As you will see if you check out the website, tomorrow the State Democratic Executive Committee will meet to decide on the identity of the 4 add-on delegates that New York is assigned.  Given that New York is her home state, I have no doubt that every one of those add-on superdelegates will immediately announce their support for Hillary.  On this blog and possibly in the media this will be a big story, b/c it will the largest one day total of superdelegates for Senator Clinton this year, even if she does not get any other superdelegates.  I would also point out though that if you notice the state immediately preceding New York and those immediately after New York were all won exceedingly handily by Senator Obama and will equal the number of add-on superdelegates from New York.  And those are only the add-ons to be chosen this weekend.  Prior to Illinois' selection of its 3 add-on superdelegates on Monday.

Thus it appears that in the add-on superdelegates (which total 64 unpledged) they will split down the middle or there will be a slight advantage given to Obama due to the fact that he has won more states.  After the add-ons are divied up, there are 227 superdelegates left.  Of the 227, Senators and Governors make up around 30, U.S. House Representatives are around 65 and the 139 left are elected or appointed party officials and former chairs of the party and former Speakers, Majority leaders and Presidents and VPs.  Today, Obama won 3 House members and Clinton won 2 party official superdelegates.  Moreover, we learned today that Sen. McCaskill (an Obama supporter) is "feeling good" about the U.S. House.  

Given the fact that Sen. Clinton needs at best estimates 69% of the superdelegates (both add-on and already identified) left to win the election, how does she do it?  For months now, we as a community have been arguing vehemently points large and small: Should Clinton drop out, should Obama drop out, racism, sexism, gas taxes, Wright, flip offs, and so on.  Yet in that time, I have yet to hear logical path that Clinton has to nomination.  We all agreed long ago that Obama's going to win among elected delegates.  So since then, we have been arguing whether it was right or wrong for the superdelegates to choose the presidential candidate and what methods they should use to choose.  Yet in that time Obama has gained a net of over a hundred superdelegates and Clinton has gained almost no superdelegates.  

So on the day before Sen. Clinton's biggest superdelegate total this year, let me ask: HOW DOES SHE WIN?  Don't tell me whether she should win or what her qualities are that will make her a better president, but please tell me how.  B/c if she cannot win and given the superdelegate ratio over the past several months I don't understand how she can, then what is the point of continuing the campaign?  Why should we continue this primary race which is damaging the ability of the party to unite behind either one of these presidential candidates if the outcome is already determined?  

Just a question.

Throughout this election season, I have been writing a series visiting the various primary/caucus states via thoughts on travel and highways.    This week we visit The Chesapeake Bay and Washington, DC, some of which is excerpted below.

Previous entries visited Iowa, Detroit (Michigan), Nevada, Florida, and various locales along Interstate 80 for Super Tuesday".

Okay, so what does Barack Obama have to do to "win" tomorrow?  He's ahead by double digits in the polls for Virginia and Maryland.  He exceeded expectations all weekend, including a greater than 20 percent win in Louisiana.  So under the protocols of expectations he must win both Maryland and Virginia tomorrow by at least 20 points.  He is expected to exceed expectations.  A 19 point win does not exceed expectations, so it should be interpreted as a major setback for him.

I've been working with our local group of Hillary's supporters here in Maryland since last March, and I've gotta admit I never thought our primary would get here.  After months and months of volunteer meetings, phone calls, leadership group meetings, parades, phone banks at the national campaign headquarters in Virginia and out in Baltimore, turning out at local festivals and Democratic club meetings and debates... (whew!) February 12th is nearly here.  I thought I might post a little about what's been going on here on the ground.

We've been busy and now that Hillary's had such great success in fundraising since Super Tuesday, she's starting to air ads on our local stations.  I have no doubt that these ads will help increase her level of support in all three primary states (MD, DC & VA).  And the debate on our local ABC affiliate (WJLA) Monday night should really help her get her message out and allow everyone see her mighty grasp on the issues.

Governor O'Malley and Senator Mikulski hosted a big rally in Annapolis yesterday, and from what I hear it was a raging success!  Make the jump for a report from one of Hillary's supporters who was lucky enough to have attended...

Weekly Voting Rights News Update

By Erin Ferns

An increase in turnout among historically underrepresented voters Tuesday brings hope for outstanding voter participation that represents all Americans in November. Project Vote's Super Tuesday exit poll analysis found young and minority voters made a strong presence at polls in key states across the country, including record-setting turnout among Latinos in California. While voter participation appears to be on the rise in this critical presidential election year, polling place problems persist as some voters - and their precincts' poll workers - were unaware of state and federal voting procedures, creating the risk of intimidation and disenfranchisement. In order to maintain fair and open access to voting for all Americans, it important to prepare voters and facilitate effective poll worker training before November.

Weekly Voting Rights News Update

By Erin Ferns

Two historically disenfranchised groups - former felons and young people - made headlines this week for assiduously struggling to restore their voting rights, a measure that both groups argue is necessary in order for them to have a voice in the nation's future come November 4.

PLEASE FORWARD

1. Stein Club Endorsement Meeting, Jan. 14

Wow. Maryland would rather vote McCain than Hillary? Seriously? If Hillary wins, she's going to have to campaign just to win back Maryland??

Rasmussen says:

Maryland Survey of 500 Likely Voters
January 8, 2008

Barack Obama (D) vs. John McCain (R)

Barack Obama (D)  48%
John McCain (R)  42%

Hillary Clinton (D) vs. John McCain (R)

Hillary Clinton (D)  43%
John McCain (R)  45%

Obama does a net +8 better than Hillary in Maryland.

OK, Hillary fans, the upside for you guys is below the fold.