* Out of 796 unpledged superdelegates; numbers are estimates from the Associated Press based on its interviews with superdelegates; last updated June 4, 2008. See a complete list of the 2008 superdelegates. Check out the Michigan or Florida election returns to see how a Democratic candidate can gain a half vote.
Republican Candidates (with at least ten delegates)
Total Pledged delegates
McCain, John
1,457
Pledged delegates needed to win: 1,191
Huckabee, Mike
249
Paul, Ron
23
Romney, Mitt
160
3rd Party/Independent Candidates
States Won
Constitution Party: Grundmann, Don
CA, NE
Green Party: McKinney, Cynthia Nader, Ralph**
AR, DC, IL, NE, WI CA, MA
Libertarian Party:*** Root, Wayne Smith, Christine
MO CA
Reform Party: No primary or caucus information
None
** Nader won the Green Party Primary in CA and MA on Feb. 5, 2008, although he entered the presidential race on Feb. 24, 2008 as an Independent. *** Bob Barr won the Libertarian Party nomination at the Libertarian Party national convention on May 25, 2008.
Delegate tallies in the 2008 presidential election vary across major media because some news organizations including CNN, MSNBC, and Associated Press make projections of delegate totals which vary based on each organization's methodology. For instance, some news media project delegate counts based on popular vote percentages although the delegates may have not been formally allocated nor the election results finalized. Other news organizations such as the New York Times represent the total number of pledged delegates based on actual pledges. To maintain accuracy and avoid projections, ProCon.org has opted to utilize the New York Times' delegate numbers unless otherwise noted.
Superdelegates(aka unpledged delegates) are not required to pledge to a particular candidate until the Democratic convention in Aug. 2008. Both the AP and the New York Times have polled the superdelegates and have come up with different estimates for how these delegates will vote. ProCon.org has opted to use the AP's unpledged delegate numbers because the AP contacts superdelegates more frequently than the New York Times.
3rd parties were included based on their 2004 presidential election ballot access. The Constitution, Green, Libertarian, and Reform parties had candidates on the ballot in enough states for their candidates to have a chance of winning the 270 electoral votes needed to be elected President. Although these 3rd parties hold primaries and caucuses in some states (usually depending on state electoral guidelines, party strength in that state, and other party-specific considerations), their presidential nominees are typically determined at each party's respective national convention. 3rd party primary information presented here is based on telephone calls with, and websites of, each participating 3rd party unless otherwise noted. Each chart below containing 3rd Party candidate information lists the three candidates within each party who received the highest number of votes in that state. Independent candidates do not have primaries and caucuses.
Delegates officially unpledged until the Sep. 1-4, 2008 national convention.
Thompson, Fred
3
25%
Hunter, Duncan
1
8%
Giuliani, Rudy
0
0%
Huckabee, Mike
0
0%
McCain, John
0
0%
Paul, Ron
0
0%
Tancredo, Tom
0
0%
* The vote totals for the Wyoming Republican Party r eflect the number of delegates to the Republican N ational Convention won by the candidates, though the delegates are officially unpledged until the convention.
* The Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted on Dec. 1, 2007 to penalize Michigan Democrats for holding an early primary by stripping the Democrats of their delegates. John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and Joe Biden removed their names from the Michigan Primary ballot in recognition of Michigan violating Democratic party rules. On May 31, 2008 the DNC reinstated the delegates with half a vote each at the national convention. The DNC awarded Clinton 69 pledged delegates, or 34.5 pledged votes, and Obama 59 pledged delegates, or 29.5 pledged votes. 128 pledged delegates and 29 unpledged delegates will attend the convention.
** The Republican National Committee plans to penalize Michigan Republicans for holding an early primary by stripping the state party of half of its delegates. Without the penalty, the state party would have 57 pledged and three unpledged delegates.
* The Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted on Aug. 25, 2007 to penalize Florida Democrats for holding an early primary by stripping the party of their delegates. On May 31, 2008 the DNC reinstated the delegates with half a vote each at the national convention. The DNC awarded Clinton 105 pledged delegates, or 52.5 pledged votes, and Obama 67 pledged delegates, or 33.5 pledged votes. 185 pledged delegates and 26 unpledged delegates will attend the convention.
* The primary for Democrats Abroad awarded seven delegates, with a total of 3.5 votes. The system is designed to enable the group to send more people to the convention, without inflating its voting power.
* 3 delegates remain unpledged until the Sep. 1-4, 2008 national convention.
3rd Parties - Feb. 5, 2008 (Delegates decided at the Green Party's convention)
Green-Rainbow Party
Candidate
Votes
Vote %
Ralph Nader+
744
40%
McKinney, Cynthia
474
26%
Swift, Kat
60
3%
Note: Data from massgreens.com (accessed Apr. 18, 2008). The Green-Rainbow Party is the Massachusetts branch of the Green Party. + Nader won the Green Party Primary in MA on Feb. 5, 2008, although he entered the presidential race on Feb. 24, 2008 as an Independent.
Democratic Primary - May 13, 2008 (Precincts Reporting: 100%; Total Delegates: 28 + 11 Superdelegates)
Candidate
Votes*
Vote %
# of Delegates
Clinton, Hillary
239,062
67%
20
Obama, Barack
91,652
26%
8
Edwards, John
26,076
7%
0
Republican State Convention - Jan. 5, 2008 (Precincts Reporting: 100%; Total Delegates: 30)*
Candidate
Votes*
Vote %
# of Delegates
Huckabee, Mike
567
52%
18
Romney, Mitt
521
47%
0
McCain, John
12
1%
0
Giuliani, Rudy
0
0%
0
Paul, Ron
0
0%
0
* Vote totals are the presidential preferences of the approximately 1,400 delegates at the state convention on Feb. 5. Eighteen delegates are awarded to the candidate who gets more than half of the vote. 9 delegates are decided in the state primary on May 13. 3 delegates officially unpledged until the Sep. 1-4, 2008 national convention.
Republican Primary - May 13, 2008 (Precincts Reporting: 100%)
* 3 delegates will be allocated as more complete results become available. 3 delegates officially unpledged until the Sep. 1-4, 2008 national convention.
3rd Parties - Feb. 19, 2008 (Delegates decided at the Green Party's convention)
Green Party
Candidate
Votes
Vote %
Cynthia McKinney
N/A
79%
Mesplay, Kent
N/A
10%
Nader, Ralph** (write-in)
N/A
5%
** Nader won votes in WI on Feb. 19, 2008. He did not enter the presidential race as an Independent until Feb. 24, 2008. Note: Data from the Wisconsin Green Party website (accessed Apr. 2, 2008). .
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