Feb 8, 2008 6:34 pm US/Central
Candidates Work Hard To Win Super Delegate Over
(WCCO)
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Including Larson, above, there are still five uncommitted delegates including Congressman Collin Peterson and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
CBS
Over
the past few weeks of Campaign 2008 we've been hearing a lot about delegates.
It's
what both Democrats and Republicans need in order to win their party's
nomination.
Right now on the Republican side, John McCain is
way ahead in the delegate count with 700, while Mike Huckabee trails with 163,
and Ron Paul with just 10.
For
the Democrats, it's a much tighter race.
Hillary
Clinton is just barely beating out Barack Obama, but what will really make a
difference at the national conventions is the Super Delegate.
Nancy
Larson is an uncommitted Democratic Super Delegate. She is one of 16 in Minnesota who may help
decide the next presidential candidate.
She's
had a phone call from Chelsea Clinton, former President Bill Clinton called to
chat, and a couple of days ago, Sen. Hillary Clinton called.
"On Super Tuesday, I got a call from Hillary herself," said Larson.
Democrats
created Super Delegates after the super-sized crash and burn of the 1972 George
McGovern campaign. They are 842 'free agents' who act as a safety valve against
political disasters.
"I
think it is a really critical important decision and its fun to laugh about it,
but it's going to be tough. I never expected to be in this position. Its never happened before," said Larson.
This
year, evenly divided Democrats may be headed to a brokered convention -- focusing
super attention on unpledged Super delegates, like Larson got from the Obama campaign.
"Who
can I have talk to you? How about George
Clooney? Can I have George Clooney talk to you?" Larson recalled from the phone call.
Larson,
who's a member of the Democratic National Committee, said she has no idea how
it will end, but said she could support a Clinton-Obama ticket or an
Obama-Clinton ticket.
"I
think that they are both such dynamic personalities that to have one overshadowing the other
would be tough, but I would love to see it. I could support that, big time,"
said Larson.
Super
Delegates are mostly members of congress and party leaders.
In
Minnesota, Obama's
got members of Congress Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, James Oberstar, Tim
Walz, State Senator Mee Moua and DNC member Ken Foxworth.
Hillary
Clinton has former Vice President Walter Mondale, and DNC members Jackie
Stevenson and Rick Stafford.
Super
Delegates can change their minds, but its politically difficult once they
commit.
Including
Larson, there are still five uncommitted delegates including Congressman Collin
Peterson and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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