Spitzer's Resignation Means One Less Superdelegate

Looks like there's gonna be one less superdelegate for the Democratic candidates to fight over. As a Democratic governor, Eliot Spitzer was given “superdelegate” status, allowing him to pledge an independent vote at the Democratic National Convention, one that he had promised to Senator Clinton.

But with Spitzer’s resignation effective Monday the disgraced governor will also lose his superdelegate role, said Damien LaVera, spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee. Spitzer was one of 795 superdelegates, an exclusive group made up of Democratic members of Congress, party leaders and other elected officials such as governors. On Monday, Spitzer will officially no longer be New York’s governor, and typically his position as superdelegate would be passed to his Democratic successor.

But Lieutenant Governor David Paterson is already on that list, having been named a member of the Democratic National Committee by chairman Howard Dean. Through that position Paterson is already a superdelegate, and cannot be given a second identical spot. Therefore when Spitzer leaves, so goes his vote as superdelegate, and the total will drop to 794.

“Once Governor Spitzer steps down,” said LaVera, “there will be one fewer unpledged delegate.”