Democrats Send $24 Million Letter Asking Pelosi to Back Off Superdelegates

A rift has slowly developed in the Democratic Party over the role of superdelegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

On March 26, 2008, Talking Points Memo posted a letter, signed by twenty-one of Senator Hillary Clinton’s top contributors, that urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to take back her statement on the role of superdelegates in a recent ABC News’ “This Week” interview. Pelosi urged superdelegates to vote according to the popular vote saying, “If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party.”

While Obama supporters fully back Pelosi’s stance, Clinton supporters feel she has stepped out of line. They argue that her comments can influence superdelegate House Democrats who are still neutral in the presidential race.

Although presidential primary elections and caucuses have stirred up political activity in the country, many Americans are still politically unaware. The idea of superdelegates in the Democratic National Convention is to negate the assumption that voters are inherently competent and well-informed to make the best choice in choosing a Democratic delegate. Therefore, it is clearly a broad perception today within the Democratic Party that the role of superdelegates is to exercise their independent judgment to make a decision best suited for the party and for the country. But what calls more attention to this specific letter than the many letters that Pelosi receives daily? Of course, it’s the same thing that catches most people’s attention, MONEY.

Clinton supporters are using their checkbooks to show that they have been the financial backbone of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) that funds the House of Representatives and that helped elect Pelosi Democratic majority. The Center for Responsive Politics calculated that the letter’s signatories have given the Democratic Party $23.6 million since 1999, and $3 million of which has gone to the DCCC. The Center for Responsive Politics also disclose that, in addition to the $23.6 million, the donors have given about $3 million to 537 committees that make up independent issue groups that are frequently involved in election.

Pelosi has yet to make a formal response regarding the letter, but sources say she was infuriated by the threat implied by donors to withhold contributions to the DCCC. Pelosi also has not publicly endorsed a Democratic candidate.