From WORLDMEETS.US, some more evidence from abroad of the perplexing nature of the Democratic primaries. Dieter Degler of Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung writes, ‘Until a few weeks ago, I though myself fairly well-versed in American electoral laws. … So what is my current state of knowledge?: The nominating procedure used by Democrats is as transparent as a combination of American football rules and the theory of relativity. … It’s interesting to note that even Americans don’t know any better.’
By Dieter Degler
Translated By Ulf Behncke
February 14, 2008
Germany – Sueddeutsche Zeitung – Original Article (German)
Until a few weeks ago, I thought myself fairly well-versed in American electoral rules. I knew in a general way how the primaries and caucuses worked, that Democrats and Republicans have vastly different rules for nominating a presidential candidate, and I even knew about the superdelegates.
But since I began taking in the exciting duel between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, I’ve learned something new every day. So what is my current state of knowledge?: The nominating procedure used by Democrats is as transparent as a combination of American football rules and the theory of relativity.
It’s interesting to note that even Americans don’t know any better. Those who surfed through major media election-campaign Web sites after the Potomac-Primaries this week learned something astonishing. Indeed, while almost everyone agrees that Obama is now on the rise and Clinton is on the defensive, we were told this: CNN announced 1253 delegates for Obama and 1211 for Clinton; The New York Times sees Obama ahead of Clinton with 916 to 885; from CBS, the man from Illinois leads with 1251 to 1185; and finally the AP (as well as the commendable site www.realclearpolitics.com) has Obama marginally ahead of the New York Senator, with 1210 delegates to her 1188.
The fact that everyone has arrived at differing results reflects the peculiarities of the process. In many states, or example, the primaries only determine the delegates to be sent to the Party convention, which will be in Denver at the end of August. It will only be then that they cast decisive ballots for a nominee.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translate foreign press coverage of the U.S. elections.
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