What happens if neither democratic candidate gets the required 2025 delegate votes?

[MaryM]

With this stalemate continuing, what would happen, I wonder if neither got the required number of delegates? I am not knowledgeable in this area, obvioulsy!:D

Mary

[Jenny in Atl]

There would be a brokered convention. It's were the party elders hash it out. Some times there can be funny business at these rare conventions. Think back to Tammany Hall.

[Dana in OR]

it all comes down to the super-delegates. I'm not sure how it is decided at the convention. It is not advantageous to a party if this happens, though, since it would leave little time to campaign between the convention and the election.

[MaryM]

There would be a brokered convention. It's were the party elders hash it out. Some times there can be funny business at these rare conventions. Think back to Tammany Hall.

Okay, I get it now and yikes!

Thanks to you both.

Mary

[Mrs Mungo]

it all comes down to the super-delegates. I'm not sure how it is decided at the convention. It is not advantageous to a party if this happens, though, since it would leave little time to campaign between the convention and the election.

Yep, 40% of the democratic delegation is made up of super-delegates. If there's a tie the super-delegates will decide it.

[lauriep]

Apparently they might talk to the candidates and try to broker the situation sometime this summer if there is still a tie - for the good of the party, to allow time for campaigning before november.

[Volty]

Yep, 40% of the democratic delegation is made up of super-delegates. If there's a tie the super-delegates will decide it.

Only 20%, not 40%.

The superdelegates are governors, Congressmen, party elders and such. Only the Dems have them, not the GOP. They are unpledged and can switch sides if they choose. For over 50 years conventions have been a big celebration of party unity and gives the candidate much momentum coming out of it due to all the hype and free publicity. A brokered convention would become a big behind the scenes brawl of deal cutting, hard work and bad feelings. That would be trouble for the Dems since it would likely leave behind a lot of anger and ill will from supporters of the loser. It'd take a lot of wind out of their sails.

One thing that's interesting about fringe candidates, as Ron Paul said when he suspended his campaign recently, a brokered convention gives them more power to influence events, policies, and cut deals to play kingmaker. Paul withdrew when Romney did because that was the point Paul realized that McCain would be able to control the conention himself. Had McCain or Romney come up short of a majority, they would have had to align with Paul or Huckabee to get the majority needed for the nomination.