What's a Superdelegate?

According dictionary.com a superdelegate is “a party leader or elected public official chosen as an uncommitted delegate to a national political convention.” Only the Democrats have superdelegates, and they are chosen by the Democratic Party based on their status within the party. Superdelegates attend the Democratic National Convention and cast their own vote for a Presidential candidate, and do not necessarily have to follow the popular vote. Some of Michigan’s Superdelegates include Governor Granholm, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Rep. John Dingell.

In an election this close, the superdelegate's role becomes more deciding than it does symbolic. The margin of defeat in the delegates (gained by primary elections) between Obama and Clinton right now is less that the amount of superdelegates (719) that will be at the Convention in late August.

A CNN report concluded that “While divided over which candidate to support, Democrats are largely agreed that the battle over delegates needs to be resolved without a sense that superdelegates -- which include Democratic lawmakers, governors, and other VIPs -- are making a decision that opposes what voters want.”

If the superdelegates actually ended up making the difference, or reversing the decision on the popular vote in the primaries, would that not be considered undemocratic? There is also a concern among party members that delegates may work out deals with each other, trying to swing the vote to one candidate. On the other hand, some believe superdelegates will follow the interest of their constituents.

So what do you think? Should superdelegates hold this much power? Or should the popular vote in the Primary hold up at the National Convention?

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/17/2008.dems/index.html

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html