I need help understanding something about US politics

[Demonbear]

I'm canadian, from quebec, so I know a bit about US politics, i get the overall picture but I don't understand everything about it and there's one question i'd really like answered. Maybe you guys can help.

Home come it takes all this freakin' time to pick presidential candidates? It's ridiculous, we've been hearing about that Obama/Clinton thing forever now and its STILL not over ( although some analyst said Obama won or something ). How does it work and WHY oh WHY aren't you guys doing that in one day. I mean really!

Get a day off, go vote for your candidate and thats it! I mean aren't you guys also voting for judges and police chiefs also? I mean, i love democracy and all but this is just stupid. And im not talking about that ridiculous amount of money spent on those campaigns. I would understand for presidential campaigns but at this stage? Come on.

Sorry for the bad grammar if there's any. Can't wait to see your answers.

[One-Shot]

To secure the dem nomination you need 2025 delegates and no has that or will get it through the primaries. So now it is up to to the super delegates, who are unpledged delegates who can vote for anyone they want too, to make the decision. The remaining primaries are more of just bullet points for the candidates on why they should be the nominee. So until someone gets 2025 this will continue.

[Demonbear]

Get more basic a bit for me please :

why 2025 specifically, is that a number based on a certan % of the total amounts of delegates?

And more important : What's a delegate, a delegate from what? every big city in the US?

[sonyfan6]

It's half the total number of delegates + 1. In other words a simple majority.

It takes so long because the US is so big. If they did every state at once then only rich people could run. Instead they start with some smaller caucus states, let people get their message out and see how people respond. Typically there's a front runner on super tuesday but it was close this year so the two candidates continued state by state.

At this point it's basically mathematically impossible for Senator Clinton to win, but Senator Obama hasn't quite gotten the number of delegates yet to finish the process. It will happen in the next couple weeks.

[hchaudh1]

I was in MOntreal a couple of weeks back. Love that city. Don't speak a word of French though.

[Demonbear]

It's half the total number of delegates + 1. In other words a simple majority.

It takes so long because the US is so big. If they did every state at once then only rich people could run. Instead they start with some smaller caucus states, let people get their message out and see how people respond. Typically there's a front runner on super tuesday but it was close this year so the two candidates continued state by state.

At this point it's basically mathematically impossible for Senator Clinton to win, but Senator Obama hasn't quite gotten the number of delegates yet to finish the process. It will happen in the next couple weeks.


Oh I see, I understand a bit better now thanks, +rep.

But isn't it a bit unfair, i mean a State can influence the other state and so on, would'nt it be more fair to do this on a shorter period of time. I mean, in canada, were doing this whole process in what, 3-4 months max. Granted we don't have as much people but still.

And im glad you liked Montreal, hchaudh1. It is a great city, Most people can speak english there though, its not like in France where they are not acquainted with the language like we are. If you have the occasion, check out Quebec City, It has a great european vibe to it, great place to visit.

[FizzeL]

... I mean, in canada, were doing this whole process in what, 3-4 months max..

Actually...it usually takes that long here too. The primaries started in January and is still going. That's because the votes for Clinton and Obama are almost neck and neck with Obama getting over 160 delegates. It's pretty close but the primaries will end on June 3rd. Also, this campaign is a VERY important campaign because this will determine if we get our first woman President or first Africa American President. And like one of the other members said, there are a lot of people here in the USA...300 million people, but sadly less than 40% actually vote (but I think that percentage is much higher this election). This is the most intense election I have EVER seen (I'm only 18).

So, you see to make it short, a bunch of Democrats and a bunch of Republicans try to get the nomination. Then when a Democratic nominee and Republican nominee is voted, both nominees will go on to the general election and that's when America decides who's President (Hopefully Obama lol).

[Demonbear]

Just between you and me, whoever gets the presidency will have a real hard time during his time there, because he'll have to deal with words like : "Deficit" and "Recession" and those words won't make anyone popular after 4 years...