Can regular delegates vote other than pledged ?

Are this year’s Democratic caucus delegates required to stay with whomever they are pledged to ?

Answer #1

Hillary is in denial. She can not win unless the superdelgates reverse the popular vote. And if they do that it will rip the party apart and assure a President McCain.

But maybe that is what she wants if SHE can’t win. It will give her another chance in 4 years.

Answer #2

Thanks for the clarification - I asked because Hillary answered this way the other day:

How can you win the nomination when the math looks so bleak for you?

It doesn’t look bleak at all. I have a very close race with Senator Obama. There are elected delegates, caucus delegates and superdelegates, all for different reasons, and >> they’re all equal in their ability to cast their vote for whomever they choose. Even elected and caucus delegates are not required to stay with whomever they are pledged to. << This is a very carefully constructed process that goes back years, and we’re going to follow the process.

Answer #3

I think the only thing they are required to do is cast a vote for their pledged delgate on the very first vote. If no winner is chosen after the first vote, they are free to vote however they want on subsequent votes. I am not positive, but I think it works something like that.

But also be aware, the delegates get to be delegates because they are generally very partisan and rabid about their candidates. In a close race, they are not going change their votes.

The only delegates that can vote however they want are the ones pledged to a candidate that has dropped out, like the 26 delegates that Edwards won.