Dem Convention

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Now this might be me not knowing enough about US politics again, but here goes a few questions about the Dem primary:

Dean seem to be polling at roughly 30% in the Dem primary. There is proportional allocation in most states. Shoudn't this make it hard for the man to capture an absolute majority of the delegates? Secondly, what happens to the delegates for candidates who later drop out? Do they switch their alignment or what?  

I think what happens is when the other candidates drop dead in the primary, they release their delagates and they will gon to the nominee, most likely.  Also, when the nomination is decided, Dean will get all of the delagates from the states that he is the only candidate.

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No, you know who the nominee is way before the convention.  even if Dean only has a handful of delagates by Feb. 3, he can be declared the winner.  This is because Dean will be the only candidate left on the remaining states except for a jerk like LaRouche, who usually releases his delagates before the convention.

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No, you know who the nominee is way before the convention.  even if Dean only has a handful of delagates by Feb. 3, he can be declared the winner.  This is because Dean will be the only candidate left on the remaining states except for a jerk like LaRouche, who usually releases his delagates before the convention.

But what other candidates stay on the ballot after Feb. 3 b/c they still think they have a chance? Or is that impossible?

They usually never do.  Most are loyal to their party and do not want to hurt the eventual nominee.  but a no-chancer like LaRouche stays on.

[© tweed]

No, you know who the nominee is way before the convention.  even if Dean only has a handful of delagates by Feb. 3, he can be declared the winner.  This is because Dean will be the only candidate left on the remaining states except for a jerk like LaRouche, who usually releases his delagates before the convention.

But what other candidates stay on the ballot after Feb. 3 b/c they still think they have a chance? Or is that impossible?

They usually never do.  Most are loyal to their party and do not want to hurt the eventual nominee.  but a no-chancer like LaRouche stays on.

But what if there is no clear winner, if two candidates are neck to neck, or if there are a number of states coming up expected to go strongly for a runner-up? IN short, what if there is not one obvious winner by that time? And if there is strong interest against one candidate, like there might be against Dean.

That has happened but not recently.  I think the 1968 Republican nomination was decided at the convention.  but usually, the nominee is decided way defore the convention, and that is probably what will happen this year.

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Yeah, that's what it was.  I forgot what year.  but still, it rarely happens.  The closest primary I can remeber that didn't go to the convention was 1992 dem, as Clinton was only assured of the nomination in June.