Party prepares for delegate challenges from Clinton, Obama camps

The Maine Democratic Party is preparing for challenges from either campaign as the state convention approaches, since every delegate is at stake in the contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Maine Democratic Party Chairman John Knutson said Sunday that he expects staff members for both campaigns to be in Maine, making sure the delegates for their respective candidates attend the convention – and if not to make sure the delegate slots get filled.

Party officials estimated that Obama would get 15 pledged delegates, and Clinton would get 9, but this could change based on the number of state delegates who come to the convention.

The party is asking delegates who can’t make it to tell the party in writing or by e-mail – a phone call isn’t enough.

Contrary to the terms being thrown around, there is no such thing as a true committed or pledged delegate. Committed delegates are “morally bound” to support their candidates and can switch at the convention if they choose. This is true at both the state and national conventions.

Party officials, however, say there is a lot of political pressure not to.

Before the state convention, each campaign will get to look at the list of candidates for national delegates, and they can challenge a certain percentage on the merit that they are not a true supporter.

At an Oxford County Democratic Committee meeting Sunday, this raised a few eyebrows.

“That’s not fair,” more than one person said.

Click on the video below to see Knutson explain the process.