Yuma County woman picked as Democratic superdelegate

Every vote may count but this year Charlene Fernandez's will count for just a little bit more.

Fernandez, chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party and vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, will be a superdelegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

This puts her in a crucial spot to determine who could be America's next president.

"I think it's such a great responsibility this time because of what's going on with the race," she said last week. "I'm hoping they can resolve it before they come to us and ask us to make the decision."

Superdelegate is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the national convention. They are usually party leaders or elected officials, according to Democratic Party rules.

Fernandez earned the spot when she was elected vice chair of the state party.

It is the delegates who actually vote on who will be the party's nominee, though most of the Democratic Party's more than 4,000 delegates are are bound by voters' decisions made in their primary elections.

A superdelegate can vote for whomever they want. Fernandez said she will support Barack Obama.

"I think we need some change," Fernandez said. "Our country is in peril right now and we just need something new. I have such respect for Mrs. Clinton. Either one would take the White House. I just think, right now, we need Barack Obama."

There are just under 800 superdelegates. Most years, they do not play a vital role in determining the nominee, due to one candidate's overwhelming victory in primary elections.

This year, however, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are still running a tight race for the nomination. Superdelegates may be the deciding factor.

Meanwhile, Arizona Sen. John McCain has almost certainly assured his place as the Republican nominee, though he won't be officially named to the spot until the Republican convention this September in Minneapolis.

Fernandez said she's heard criticism of the superdelegate system but she thought this election shows why it is needed.

She added that, far from hurting the Democratic Party, the contested primary has breathed life into it. She started political organizing in 1992, when Bill Clinton was elected, and she said she can't remember an election this exciting.

"What's so exciting is to see the young voters and the new voters that are just so engaged. I don't think it's hurting our party. I think it's invigorating and it's adding to our party."

The Democratic convention will be held Aug. 25-28 in Denver.


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Sarah Reynolds can be reached at
sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.