News Summary

WASHINGTON — The decision over who will be the next Democratic nominee for president of the United States may come down to the likes of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, former Ohio AFL-CIO director Bill Burga and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.

And that, they believe, is not entirely a bad thing.

The trio are among the 21 Ohio "superdelegates" – Democratic party heavyweights whose support equals one delegate in a closely contested Democratic presidential primary. There are 796 total, and their presence has spurred some drama among other Democrats who fret that it's not much of a democracy when party muckety-mucks are picking the nominee.

But Redfern and others defend the process, saying many of the superdelegates have constituencies that they will listen to before they weigh in.

"Just because the mainstream press hasn't paid attention to the process in 25 years doesn't mean you throw it out the door," he said. He has not backed either candidate.

He argues the Ohio superdelegates' support will track whomever Ohio voters support March 4.

Former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Leland, who picked some of the current superdelegates but is not himself one, said such party leaders should have a say in the party's nominee.

"These people have a vested interest in the success of the party," he said. "They ought to have a say in the direction of the party. Whatever happens is going to affect their lives very dearly and I think they should have the ability to weigh in."

Of the 21 Ohio superdelegates, only three have announced their endorsements. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Cleveland, have both backed, and are aggressively campaigning for, Hillary Clinton, Former DNC chair David Wilhelm, now a Bexley resident, backs Barack Obama.

Wilhelm is skeptical that the race will come down to superdelegates, and he's even more skeptical that they would overrule the intent of Democratic voters. "If superdelegates overrule the choice of Democratic primary voters, that would be a very difficult and divisive scenario for the party," he said. "I think it's an unlikely scenario at the end of the day. I think it's one we should work hard to avoid."

Staying neutral does have advantages beyond the baggage that comes with endorsing a candidate. "Whenever I declare, that means I've got to go to work," said superdelegate and Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, who is uncommitted and professes to be torn over which candidate to back. "And the city's got me busy enough."

Others hope the decision doesn't come down to them.

Former Darke County Democratic chair Enid Goubeaux has served as a superdelegate twice before, but those terms were fairly honorary – the nominees had already been picked by the time she voted at the convention. She calls the tight race "gut-wrenching," and hopes voters pick the nominee before it comes down to the superdelegates.

"I'm hoping and praying this gets settled before the convention," she said.

Bill Burga, meanwhile, is not taking a position until the AFL-CIO offers one. "I always follow their recommendation," he said. "And if they stay neutral at some point I'll have to decide who I'll be supporting."

Unlike Goubeaux, Burga wouldn't mind being the decision-maker. "I would like it to come down to me," he said. "I would like to sit down and negotiate a good deal for the working people."

Kaptur, D-Toledo, has not backed a candidate, but last year she gave all of them a specific blueprint on how to win her support. In three words it was this: Come to Ohio.

She and the rest of the Ohio congressional Democrats sent a letter to the candidates and invited them to take a bus tour around the state to listen to the concerns of Ohioans. The front-runners sent back a polite letter — not enough for Kaptur. "It would take a day and a half," she said. "They spend that much time in worshipful rallies."

Kaptur wants the candidates to hear about the state's struggling economy, the detrimental effects of trade deals such as NAFTA, and the foreclosure crisis. Clinton was in Dayton Thursday, Feb. 14, talking to residents about foreclosures.

Kaptur acknowledges this is a unique position for her — and for the state.

"Normally superdelegates are cast aside," she said. "But in this case there are heavenly forces working with us to allow us to say, 'Don't take Ohio for granted, and please come and have a conversation with our people.' "