08 Dem Nom: If third candidate placed 2nd in all primaries...

[King]

,,,would he eventually become the delegate leader?

Let's say strong, charismatic, but established Candidate X of Florida emerged as the #3 (instead of Edwards) and took equally from Obama and Clinton but never managed to win anywhere (besides his disqualified homestate) but did well everywhere.  So the results would be like

Iowa
Obama 34%
CanX 31% (Edwards real life result works here)
Clinton 30%

New Hampshire
Clinton 32%
CanX 31%
Obama 29%

South Carolina
Obama 51%
CanX 24%
Clinton 22%

Pennsylvania
Clinton 38%
CanX 32%
Obama 29%

And it just continues throughout.  X never finishes first, but he never finishes last.  I'm not sure how the delegate splitting is allocated in the Dems, but would he still fall behind in the delegate count despite a lack of victories.  Is the bonus (if any) to a state winner too much to overtake from despite constant strong finishes? Or would it remain a three way race all the way until the final primaries?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Technically, he could indeed win a plurality of delegates, but not a majority.

[King]

Technically, he could indeed win a plurality of delegates, but not a majority.

Well, Obama didn't win a majority of the delegates either.  It was the superdelegates that pushed him over the finish line.  The end result would probably require two candidates to come to a block agreement of Nominee-Running Mate.  Likely angering the third candidate and their supporters.

[Bo]

Technically, he could indeed win a plurality of delegates, but not a majority.

Well, Obama didn't win a majority of the delegates either.  It was the superdelegates that pushed him over the finish line.  The end result would probably require two candidates to come to a block agreement of Nominee-Running Mate.  Likely angering the third candidate and their supporters.

I agree with this.