Summary of the Presidential Campaign so far and Relevant Dates

[EMUJeff]

Here is where the two parties stand on their way to the conventions...
New totals for the Democrats (currently 2,026 needed to win nomination*)-
Candidate....................Votes**..............Delegates...........Superdelegates..............Total
Senator Clinton.......16,727,863..............1,445.5........................270.5*..............1,716.0
Senator Obama.......16,710,233..............1,599.5........................284.0................1,883.5
Senator Edwards.........979,707...................19.0............................0.0.....................19.0
Total.......................35,123,813...............3,064.0.........................554.5..............3,618.5
Remaining ..................................................189.0.........................242.5..................431.5
*There have been three people added to the Superdelegate list since January brining the new total of delegates up to 4,050 meaning 2,026 are now needed for nomination
**Superdelegates from US Territorial primaries are counted as only half a superdelegate.

On the GOP side-
New totals for the Republicans (with 1,191 needed for nomination)-
Candidate.....................................Votes..............Total Delegates
Senator McCain.......................8,939,084...................1,301
Governor Romney....................4,555,853......................175
Governor Huckabee.................4,124,214......................257
Representative Paul.................1,021,610.........................32
Others.....................................1,097,376.........................83*
Total......................................19,738,137....................1,847
Remaining....................................N/A.............................532
*69 of whom are uncommitted delegates, 11 Senator F. Thompson, 2 Ambassador Keyes, 1 Representative Hunter.
Because of the number of winner-take-all primaries in the Republican party, Senator McCain has yet to gain a majority of the overall vote, but has garnered 70% of the delegates so far and has enough delegates to win the nomination.

Overall, 54,861,950 votes have been counted in this primary election. This total does not include four states and Puerto Rico, which still have to vote OR the four states whose caucuses don't release actual vote totals.


Here are the relevant upcoming dates leading to Election Day...
May 20th Primaries in Kentucky and Oregon
May 31st 30 members of the DNC rules committee meet to decide on a resolution to the MI and FL state delegations and the formula by which those delegates will be divided.
June 1st Primaries in Puerto Rico
June 3rd Primaries in Montana and South Dakota
June 22nd Last day for State Conventions to rattify all the committed delegate counts. Superdelegates have until roll call at the conventions to decide who to vote for on the first ballot.
August 25th-28th Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado
September 1st-4th Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota
September 26th Presidential Debate in Oxford, Mississippi
October 2nd Vice-Presidential Debate in St. Louis, Missouri
October 7th Presidential Debate in Nashville, Tennessee
October 15th Presidential Debate in Hempstead, New York
November 4th United States Presidential Election Day!

EMUJeff

[EMUJeff]

Senator Clinton won precisely the percentage of delegates she needs to continue to win if she hopes to reach 2,026 before Senator Obama. Basically she needs 71% of the remaining number while he needs 34%. The reason for the two not adding to 100 is the 19 delegates Senator Edwards holds. In other words, the two remaining contenders are vying for less than 100% of the total delegates. His endorsement and movement of his delegates to either of the candidates puts him in good position for the cabinet post of his choice if the Dems win in Novemeber.

Adding to the fun,
May 30th the DNC Executive Committee will be meeting per Chairperson Howard Dean. They will decide IF Michigan and Florida delegates will be sat. This is important as the party needs these states to win the general election in November. One proposal is to give all the delegates Senator Clinton has won in both states to her (193) and the ones Senator Obama has won in Florida (73) which would close the gap from 174 delegates to 54. Because Senator Obama followed the rules and took his name off the ballot in Michigan some debate has occurred to give some portion of the 55 delegates awarded as undecided on the reasoning that most of those votes were protest votes because he and three others were not on there. Estimates range from 28 delegates to all 55. This also gives Senator Edwards another 13 delegates. This affects the nomination in three ways.
First, by adding delegates it changes the 50% plus one to be nominated from 2,025 to 2,209.
Secondly, it adds 55 superdelegates to the mix.
Lastly, it potentially gives Senator Edwards leverage as his 32 delegates could mean the nomination to either party. Even if all the delegates are added from FL and MI, the totals so far would give Senator Obama from a 54 to a 109 delegate lead, give or take the new superdelegates. He would need between 230 and 285 (according to MI delegates awarded) more to get the nomination (41% to 55%) and Senator Clinton would need 321 (56% to 62%).
Can we please not make this so simple next time? Lol

EMUJeff

[EMUJeff]

Breaking News, really.
South Carolina Democratic Senator John Edwards has endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama for President just one day after Senator Obama was soundly beaten in West Virginia by rival New York Senator Hillary Clinton. This occurred while Senator Obama was campaigning in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
EMUJeff