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RESULT THAN THE NATION-WIDE POPULAR VOTE?
It is important to remember that the President is not chosen by a nation-wide popular vote. The electoral vote totals determine the winner, not the statistical plurality or majority a candidate may have in the nation-wide vote totals. Electoral votes are awarded on the basis of the popular vote in each State."

"Note that 48 out of the 50 States award electoral votes on a winner-takes-all basis (as does DC). For example, all 55 of California's electoral votes go to the winner of that State election, even if the margin of victory is only 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent."

"In a multi-candidate race where candidates have strong regional appeal ... it is quite possible that a candidate who collects the most votes on a nation-wide basis will not win the electoral vote. In a two-candidate race, that is less likely to occur ... This also occurred in the 2000 presidential election, where George W. Bush received fewer popular votes than Albert Gore Jr., but received a majority of electoral votes."

The 2008 election may turn out to be historic in more ways than just the presidential choices of the first female candidate, the first African-American candidate, and the oldest candidate ever. It may also be the first time that the super delegates actually decide who the Democrat's nominee will be. It sounds like that could depend on which candidate makes the most attractive offer in exchange for super delegate backing.

In conclusion, it would appear that our votes do count (probably) in how the states' pledged delegates vote at the convention. Beyond that, the power players can take over. If every Democrat in the country votes for the same Democratic nominee and the super delegates and/or Electoral College decide that the candidate getting zero votes is better for the party, whichever one we collectively rejected could very well end up with the nomination or the job itself.

Remember how Vice President Cheney responded recently to a question about the polls showing that the majority of the American people were not in favor of continuing the war? Cheney's reply was, "So?" This election could end up having the same answer when someone is asked to explain how the candidate with the fewest votes got elected. So? And the electors might add, "It's not the American people's job to decide. The super delegates and, ultimately, the Electoral College are the deciders, not the people who voted!"

SOURCES
Los Angeles Times, 1/19/2008: "Super delegates may sink the Democrats"
http://www.latimes.c om/news/printedition/suncommen tary/la-oe-spivak19jan19,1,582 0438,print.story

National Archives and Records Administration FAQ page
http://www.archives.gov/fe deral-register/electoral-colle ge/faq.html

AOL News: Elections 08
http://news.aol.com/election s/story/_a/what-are-delegates/ 20071126122909990001

Learn more about this author, Sondra Deuber.
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