PI Original Adam Doster Monday April 14th, 2008, 1:38pm

Indiana Superdelegates Feeling The Pressure

During this long slog of a primary fight, many Democrats have sounded off against the institution of the superdelegate: the appointed party insiders who could theoretically overturn Barack Obama's pledged delegate lead and decide the 2008 nomination. OpenLeft's Chris Bowers ...

During this long slog of a primary fight, many Democrats have sounded off against the institution of the superdelegate: the appointed party insiders who could theoretically overturn Barack Obama's pledged delegate lead and decide the 2008 nomination. OpenLeft's Chris Bowers made such an argument quite explicitly in February:

If the institution that exists to resolve disputes within the American center-left does not operate according to democratic principles, then I see no reason to continue participating within that institution. If that institution fails to respect democratic principles in its most important internal contest of all--nominating an individual for President of the United States--then I will quit the Democratic Party.

While those on the left have justly criticized the undemocratic nature of the superdelegate system, an angle that hasn't been covered is the potential danger superdelegates themselves face by throwing their weight behind one of the two nominees. For instance, check out the pressure on Indiana's five remaining undeclared members of Congress, as detailed by The Politico.

(More after the jump ...)

First, there's Blue Dog Democrat Baron Hill:

A Clinton vote could hurt him in two ways in his southeastern Indiana-based district. In his highly competitive congressional district, he can’t afford to lose a single vote. Yet by endorsing Clinton, he risks antagonizing the Obama supporters clustered around Indiana University in Bloomington.

Then, in November, he could take another hit if she’s the nominee, says Brian Howey, founder of Howey Politics Indiana a leading authority on Indiana politics.

“To come out for Hillary Clinton would be a real liability for him,” said Howey. “That would not play well with the independents, and even more moderate Republicans [in the 9th District].”

An Obama endorsement also has downside risk. In a district that delivered 59 percent to George W. Bush in 2004, one where the national party isn’t always an asset, getting too close to a candidate that Republicans will portray as the “most liberal senator” could prove to be a serious drag on Hill’s Election Day performance.

It doesn't get any easier for Andre Carson in the state capitol:

Indiana’s other first-termer, newly-minted Rep. Andre Carson, has a different problem. He must defend the Indianapolis-based seat he won in a March special election on the same day as the May 6 presidential primary—so he can’t afford to make any intraparty enemies at the moment.

So this system not only grants party insiders the opportunity to overturn the will of the electorate, it also represents a liability for members of Congress from swing districts. The argument for scrapping the superdelegates is growing stronger every day.

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