Hunt: Superdelegate system worked


Jim HuntJim Hunt says the superdelegate system worked.

The former North Carolina governor said that the Democratic primary system he helped create as head of a national commission in 1982 turned out the way he expected.

"I think it worked pretty well," he told Dome. "It helped us get a good result and get the primary resolved. Suppose this thing had gone to the convention unresolved. ... I think that would have hurt the party's chances of winning."

Hunt was asked about the reluctant superdelegates, often Blue Dog Democrats from more conservative districts who did not want to be tied too closely to either presidential nominee.

"It's not an excuse that they don't want to be put on the spot," he said. "Politicians have to be put on the spot all the time. That goes with the territory."

One thing he would consider changing: The number of superdelegates. Hunt said his commission recommended a much smaller group of "automatic delegates," but the party has since expanded it.

"The party ought to take another look at whether or not they want to have that many," he said. "That's probably the only thing that I would say is a real question."

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Re: Hunt: Superdelegate system worked

It worked by denying the Democratic registered voters the chance to elect who they wanted. The whole concept of these delegates is autocratic, elitist and not at all democratic. Hunt, like most democratic party leaders, seem to think the convention is only meant to be a big gala and series of social events. I always thought the purpose of the convention was to elect the nominee. Going into the convention with everything decided, and to a far degree decided by the super delegates, reminds me of something a dictator would do in having the "people's congress" rubber stamp what the dictator wants done.

So much for the morals and values exhibited by the Democratic Party and our previous governor.