Jerry Meek could be the biggest superdelegate of all in North Carolina — if he wants to.
As Democratic Party chairman, Meek will name two additional delegates before the national convention, giving him a little more say than his own superdelegate vote.
Under state rules, Meek will submit four names for the two slots, and attendees at the state's June 21 convention will choose from the two.
In theory, this works something like appointing a Supreme Court justice. Meek could name four people who really are neutral or whose preferences he doesn't know, but it's more likely that he'll have a pretty good idea of which way they're leaning.
That doesn't mean convention-goers will, however. And Meek could choose to throw the dice and really name four people he has no clue about.
For now, Meek remains neutral in the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. That puts him in line with the majority of his colleagues around the country.
Only 20 of the party's 56 state and territory chairmen have endorsed a candidate, according to the Associated Press. Obama has 12 endorsements, Clinton eight.
Post-Script: Meek's fiancee, state Rep. Tricia Cotham, was on the guest list at a Clinton event last month, but she said she is remaining neutral as well.




Re: Jerry Meek, super-superdelegate?
If Jerry Meek can manage this North Carolina presidential primary balancing act, then he could wind up on the short list for Veep.