There are a couple things I find interesting about all this delegate business. First, there is the simple fact that the DNP uses proportional allocation across all states while the RNP uses a winner take all allocation in a handful of their contests, though not all. This is an interesting inconsistency among the Republicans.

On one hand, it makes considerably more sense to use the DNP method. If candidate A received 60% of the vote to candidate B’s 40%, then they should then split the delegates on that same percentage. Even this, though, is not a perfect science (i.e. can someone explain to me how Obama took more pledged delegates in Nevada?). Label me confused.

On the other hand, the RNP is simply using (for some states) the method we use for our national election; the GOP’s winner-take-all method mirrors the electoral collage method we use for our presidential elections. You may ask yourself why they would, on a state by state basis, have different methods for distributing the delegate vote but they obviously take their cue from our electoral collage establishment which currently includes two states, Maine and Nebraska, who currently do not follow the winner take all format, and who have the ability to vote proportionally. Oh and don’t forget Maryland. As we brought to you back in January, Maryland became the first state to adopt the NPV into law; essentially casting their vote to whomever wins the National Popular Vote. Inconsistency on a national level seems to have bread inconsistency at the party level and neither side is exempt from the madness.

Another issue that is becoming more and more prominent, and in some regards perhaps is the most important issue facing the Democratic party is the unpledged, undecided and uncommitted superdelegate vote. The Democrats have an increasingly interesting race on their hands. As Clinton watches Obama win more and more states and take over the lead in pledged delegates, it is becoming obvious that, while we may avoid a brokered convention, we are certainly staring down the barrel of a potential powder keg of a situation.

The current list of superdelegate endorsements and those who are still to announce an endorsement, while an interesting read, is essentially useless. Currently, Clinton has the early lead in superdelegates, but these individuals are not tied to any declaration and have until they legally cast their vote at the convention to change their mind. As the results come in and the Obama movement amazingly pulls ahead, some have already backed off their previous endorsement.

The majority of superdelegates are party big-wigs and old-timers, individuals who drink the political Kool-Aid. They initially supported the equally old-time politician in Clinton. If Obama continues to win these February contests in a convincing manner, if he can keep it close in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and if he carries the pledged-delegate lead into the DNC, (at this point it is mathematically impossible for either candidate to reach the total needed to clinch a win) the old-timers may be hard pressed to vote for Clinton with the American people in Obama’s corner. Democrats have harped on the fact that the national election was won by an individual who did not receive the popular vote and I can’t imagine it going over very well if they were to commit the same injustice inside their own party.

So while it seems as if the superdelegates are the most important part of this process, perhaps the piece of the puzzle that’s really most important is us, the individual voters. Whichever candidate heads into the convention with the lead in pledged delegates, delegates received as a direct result of the popular vote, should come out on top. I can’t imagine the superdelegates would ever allow a candidate who was running in second to leap frog the front-runner. Not in this political climate, not in this day and age.

Many of the superdelegates seemed to assume, as perhaps Clinton’s own team did, that Super Tuesday would be a coronation of sorts. In reality, it became a historical turning-of-the-tide that left Team Clinton in an unexpected dog fight and caused them to scramble, recently reassigning some members while losing others all together. What was once a forgone conclusion is now one of the most hotly contested party nomination races in history. Fortunately for us, we may just have a say in who wins. A democracy functioning like a democracy: Brilliant!

Addendum: The Daily Kos' newest addition, user JayHub, asks in his first diary entry, to what extent should the superdelegates impact the race.