Talking Points: Rybak On Superdelegates
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Bernie Sanders won the Wyoming caucuses this weekend by 12 points, but you would not know that by that state's delegate results: the Vermont senator and front-runner Hillary Clinton will split Wyoming's 14 delegates evenly.
The reason is that party rules allow for superdelegates, which are usually elected officials and party elites who can vote for whoever they want at the party convention.
Here in Minnesota, Sanders has at least three super delegates: Reps. Rick Nolan, Keith Ellison and Collin Peterson. Nationally, however, he trails Clinton badly in the superdelegate count.
Some Democrats are calling for the elimination of superdelegates. Others, meanwhile, are calling for rule changes – one of them is former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
"I am not nuts about superdelegates and caucuses," he said on WCCO Sunday Morning. "I think we have to open up politics. Part of what I try to do at the national party...is try to keep it open and level so people can have their voices heard."
Sanders has now won seven of the last eight presidential contests. But Clinton supporters predict they will capture delegate-rich New York on April 19.
Sanders supporters, however, don't think the front-runner will win New York that easily. Clinton's 40-point lead in that state is now down 13 percentage points.
Rybak says that because of his position with the national party he has not endorsed either Sanders or Clinton.