The Fix Is In

At first glance, it looks like Bernie Sanders is threatening hillary's triumphant march to the democrat nomination. After all, he almost pulled off a stunning upset in Iowa (notwithstanding suspicions that the outcome was rigged by hillary's supporters), and he beat hillary 2-1 in New Hampshire. But despite his edge in the popular vote, he's way behind in delegates who will actually vote for him.

Clinton Has 45-To-1 'Superdelegate' Advantage Over Sanders

Among (already-selected "superdelegates"), Clinton leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 359 to 8, according to an AP survey of the group that will help elect the nominee at the Democratic National Convention in July...

The 712 superdelegates, though, are still only less than a third of the 2,382 total delegates needed to win the nomination. The rest will be determined, in part, by actual results in the primaries and caucuses...

But these numbers mean Clinton has already gotten 15 percent of the delegates needed — two months before any voting has begun. In other words, Clinton starts with a 15 percentage point head start over Sanders.

So just who exactly are these "superdelegates?"

In the Democratic Party, superdelegates are current or former party leaders, including governors, senators, representatives, and former presidents and vice presidents. These superdelegates, 712 in all, aren't bound by primaries or caucus results to cast their votes — they can vote for whomever they want at the party convention in July.

In other words, they are the democrat party establishment. And they aren't about to hand over their party to some wacky old socialist from a tiny northeastern state. So don't get too excited about the hillary express getting derailed by some aging hippy. It ain't gonna happen. (More here.) (h/t Toejam)

Unless she gets indicted. Then all bets are off...