Portal:Superdelegate Transparency Project/Help out/Build the wobble list of endorsers

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< Portal:Superdelegate Transparency Project | Help out

This page describes something you can do to further the Superdelegate Transparency Project. There's even more things to do listed at the project's main "help out" page. If you need assistance, please feel free to contact Assistant Congresspedia Editor Avelino Maestas at his talk page or via email at amaestas@sunlightfoundation.com. To begin editing Congresspedia, you'll need to briefly register (this is done to cut down on vandalism and spam). All you need is an email address—click the "Register/Log-In" link in the upper-right-hand corner of this window. You may also find the quick guide to editing useful.

As it looks more and more likely that the superdelegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention will decide the party's presidential nominee, many are switching sides or hedging on their previous endorsements. We're creating "wobble lists" to see which endorsing superdelegates may switch sides and which way the undeclared superdelegates may break.

1 How to participate
2 How to categorize superdelegates
- 2.1 Endorsement and "wobbler" criteria
- 2.2 Undeclared superdelegates: regular, "leaners" and the "Pelosi Club"
3 For more help
4 New templates

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How to participate

Select a state:
Select a state from the map below to look for its wobblers (it's best to open this in a separate window so you can refer back to this instruction page): us map

Look for wobblers:
Next, examine the list of superdelegates for wobblers according to the below criteria (see chart below). The easiest ones to start with are:

The undeclared superdelegates that have accepted money from one of the campaigns (which the Center for Responsive Politics found predicted endorsements at an 80% rate) - you can find the campaign contribution in the "Accepted Donations From" column in the chart; or
For those states that have had primaries - the statewide elected representatives (like U.S. senators or governors) or U.S. representatives whose districts line up with primary vote totals; or
- NOTE: Texas and New Jersey vote totals do not line up with congressional districts, so don't use this criteria with them. Additionally, while Clinton won the popular vote in Texas, Obama won the caucus. Rather than get into a big fight over which is better, it's probably best to simply skip Texas in this test.
Superdelegates that are listed somewhere as endorsing one of the candidates (such as on the New York Times superdelegate list) but don't meet the "solid endorsement" test (see below). This is a good way to accumulate any kinds of leads on a superdelegate that fall short of definitive.

Record any found wobblers:

Record it in the "Delegate count" chart. To do so, click the "[edit]" link on the big "Delegate Count" line above the chart. Then look for the name of your superdelegate.
- Tip: The superdelegates are listed in order of U.S. representatives first, then other elected officials and then DNC members, so look for your superdelegate before clicking edit to be able to find them more quickly.
For superdelegates that have already endorsed but are now wobbling, simply add "(wobbler)" after Clinton or Obama's name in the "Superdelegate Status" column and increase the number of wobblers listed in the totals at the bottom of the state chart.
For undeclared superdelegates, simply add "(wobbler-Clinton)" or "(wobbler-Obama)" after the "Undeclared" in the "Superdelegate Status" column and increase the number of wobblers listed in the totals at the bottom of the state chart.
· Tip: The chart markup can be a little confusing, but you can always select the "show preview" button to make sure you did it right.
Next, scroll down to the "Wobble list" section below the chart and add the name of the superdelegate in the appropriate category, making sure to list the reason why they qualify.

Tip: The Massachusetts superdelegate page has at least one of every type of wobbler listed - check it out for examples.

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How to categorize superdelegates

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Endorsement and "wobbler" criteria

"Wobblers" are superdelegates who have endorsed Clinton or Obama but that endorsement is considered "wobbling" (less than solid). The criteria for endorsements is taken from DemConWatch, so endorser lists should match. If a superdelegate does something to obtain "wobble" status, they are still counted as endorsing Clinton or Obama until they make a definitive statement that they are switching endorsements or are officially "undeclared."

Superdelegate Endorserment Criteria	Superdelegate "Wobbler" Endorser Criteria
A press release from the superdelegate announcing the endorsement; OR A press release or blog post on Clinton or Obama's official campaign website announcing the endorsement; OR A newspaper article quoting the superdelegate endorsing the candidate or paraphrasing a solid statement of endorsement (NOT a list); OR An official position (such as a state "chair" - a fundraising position) with the campaign.	A superdelegate who has met the standard of a "solid endorsement," BUT THEY ALSO: Have made comments indicating they MAY be reconsidering their endorsement (for any reason, including being swayed by primary vote results); OR Are an elected party or public official representing a district or state whose voters selected a different candidate (NOT including generic DNC members from that state); OR Are reported as making an endorsement by a source that now seems unreliable; OR Are reported as more recently having a different position but that report does not meet the criteria of a "solid endorsement" (thus meriting the superdelegate's move to a different column and off the wobbler list).

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Undeclared superdelegates: regular, "leaners" and the "Pelosi Club"

All superdelegates are "undeclared" until they fully meet the criteria for an endorsement (see above). Undeclared superdelegates can be considered "leaners" towards either Clinton or Obama, however, for a number of reasons that indicate that they may break for one of the candidates.

Undeclared Superdelegate Criteria	"Leaner" Undeclared Superdelegate Criteria	The "Pelosi Club" of Undeclared Superdelegates
All superdelegates are "undeclared" until they meet the criteria for an endorsement.	Undeclared superdelegates are "leaners" if they: Have received campaign contributions from ONLY one candidate (contributions from both cancel out); OR Are included in the INTERNAL Clinton or Obama lists of endorsees (as reflected in the New York Times superdelegate list); OR Are an elected party or public official representing a district or state where the primary vote has taken place; (NOT including generic DNC members from that state); OR Are reported as endorsing or supporting Clinton or Obama but that report doesn't meet the "solid endorsement" criteria (see below); OR Have appeared at a fundraiser or rally for Clinton or Obama; OR Have previously made a "solid endorsement" but have since backed off or stated that it did not necessarily guarantee vote as a superdelegate.	"Pelosi Club" superdelegates have specifically committed to vote for the leader in the pledged delegates.