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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Voter guide: Presidential primary actually a vote for delegates

By JOHN GRABER

STAFF WRITER

Ohioans won't actually be voting for presidential candidates during the March 4 primary election.

Even though the names of presidential candidates will be on the ballots, citizens aren't really voting for them. When they cast a vote, people are really voting for a delegate who promises to vote for a particular presidential candidate during the party's national convention this summer.

That's why, above the list of presidential candidates on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, it says “For delegate and alternate to the national convention.”



Republicans

The Ohio Republican Party will send 88 delegates to the national convention in Minneapolis on Sept. 1. Of those, 85 will be bound to vote for a particular candidate. Who they're bound to will depend on the March 4 vote.

The other three delegates -- the Republican National Committee state chair, the national committeeman and national committeewoman -- are “unbound,” which means they are free to vote for whomever they choose. These three are sometimes called “superdelegates.”

There will be a total of 2,380 voting delegates from all the states at the Republican convention. Whoever wins the nomination will need to secure 1,191 of those votes.

Republican voters in Ohio will actually be voting for two types of delegates, both of whom will be of the “bound” variety.

Republican voters will cast one ballot for an “at-large” delegate for a particular candidate, who will represent all of Ohio. They also will cast a ballot for a “district delegate” for a particular candidate, who will only represent voters in the 4th Congressional District.

Complicating the Republican vote will be the fact that there are six presidential candidates on the Ohio ballot -- three who are still in the race, and three who are not.

Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Ron Paul are still contenders. Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani are not.



Democrats

On the other side of the aisle, Ohio will send a total of 161 delegates to the Democratic national convention in Denver starting Aug. 25.

Of those, 141 will be pledged to a particular candidate. Who they'll be pledged to will depend on the March 4 vote.

Ohio Democrats will also send 20 superdelegates, who are unpledged, to the national convention.

The superdelegates are often Democratic members of Congress, party leaders, and grass roots workers.

“They tend to work all four years, not just in a presidential election year,” Democratic National Committee spokesman Damian Lavera said. “They help build the party and have a lot invested in promoting the Democratic Party.”

Unpledged Democratic superdelegates from Ohio will be Ted Strickland, Sherrod Brown, Marcy Kaptur, Dennis Kucinich, Tim Ryan, Zachary T. Space, Betty Sutton, Charles Wilson, Joyce Beatty, William Burga, Enid Goubeaux, Mark Mallory, Ronald L. Malone, Rhine L. McLin, Patricia Moss, Sonny Nardi, Chris Redfern, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and two “add on” delegates chosen by state party leaders.

There will be a total of 4,049 voting delegates from all the states at the Democratic convention. Whoever wins the nomination will need to secure 2,025 of those votes.

Unlike the Republicans, Democratic voters in Hancock County will cast only one ballot for a delegate for a particular presidential candidate.

Democratic voters will see four presidential candidates on the Ohio ballot, two of whom are no longer in the race.

On the ballot are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who are still contenders; along with John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich, who have dropped out.



Democratic delegates

These are some of the Ohio delegates who will go to the national convention, if their candidate is successful on March 4:

Fourth Congressional District delegates for Hillary Clinton are Billie Brandon, Mary Stark, James Weston and David Reynolds.

Fourth Congressional District delegates for Barack Obama are Beverly McCoy, Nancy Stephani, Johnny Givand and Dustin Boston.



Republican delegates

Fourth Congressional District delegates for John McCain are Ben Rose of Lima; Robert Luckey, Sidney; Alice DeWine, Ada. Alternates are Robin E. Miller, Urbana; John Mihahn, Urbana; Colleen Okane.

At-large delegates for McCain are Ilze Bekeny, Westlake; Melissa Butler, Dayton; Laurel Dawson, Bexley; Elizabeth E. Emmert, Gambier; Dorothy J. Ginther, Wooster; Anne M. Hahn, Urbana; Josephine Inslee, Yellow Springs; Dianne D. Keeler, Centerville; Bridget McAuliffe, Dublin; Mary C. Mertz, Worthington; Patricia A. Murray, Cincinnati; Jeena Naone, Dayton, Natasha B. Platt, Newark; Jeanene L. Prestanski, West Chester; Shirley Sadler, Lebanon; Marilou W. Smith, Kettering; William T. Darling, Worthington; Michael DeWine, Cedarville; Ryan Burgess; Jon A. Husted, Kettering; Mark Kingseed, Centerville; Philip Laube, Cambridge; Matthew C. McAuliffe, Dublin; Patrick McGervey, Avon Lake; Edward J. Mechenbier, Beavercreek; Michael L. Murry, Bellbrook; Thomas J. Ratcliff, Cortland; Kenneth Struewing, Yellow Springs; Steven J. Sweeney, Cincinnati; Adolfo A. Tornichio, Beavercreek; Aaron Wheeler Sr.

At-large alternates for McCain are Julia Bentz, Centerville; Alison M. Bisig, Cincinnati; Alice Bond; Dublin; Suzanne Brennan, Columbus; Nicole Burke, Springboro; Esther Dadaian, Fairview Park; Elizabeth Ellis, Dayton; Judy Hayes, Dayton; Paulette Miller, Tiffin; Helen T. Nahigian, Westlake; Jermiah D. Robbs, Youngstown; Suzanne M. Schmidt, Xenia; Lisa R. Sideropolis, Leavittsburg; Cheri Stout, Yellow Springs; Susan Zanner, Bexley; Colon E. Alfaro, Centerville; Stewart Brown, Centerville; Steven Driver, Holland; Neal W. Duiker, Brook Park; John M. Elliot, Gambier; Raymon Labuda, Akron; Jeffery Meddock, Roaming Shores; Robert Nahigian, Westlake; Stanley Nahigian, Hunting Valley; John McGervey, Avon; James Samuel, Columbus; Joshua John Hahn, Urbana; Dr. Jim Schieda, Rocky River; Ian Tanner, Jefferson; James B. Walker III, Alexandria; Lowe H. Wiggers, West Chester.

Fourth Congressional District delegates for Ron Paul are Eleanor Paige Tabler, Wapakoneta; Ralph Mullinger, Findlay; Steven L. McMaster, Findlay. District alternates are Cynthia Wray, St. Paris; Deloris Cramer, Ada; Jerrold Cramer, Ada.

At-large delegates for Ron Paul are Clayton Henson, James J. Burkhamer, Jonathan D. McFarland, Paul W. Leithart, David B. Ryan, Kyle McKieman, Spencer Waugh, John D. Diamond, Ross A. LaGue, Brian J. Schrock, Kenneth E. Barker, Michael J. Farrow, Jason G. Hick, John D. Zarlino, Jason Rink, Donald R. Wargo, David W. MacLean, Lisa Shough-Jarvis, Kerri K. Brand, Jody L. Jooss, Alicia Healy, Kristina M. Neff, Stephanie N. Henry, Linsey E. Griffith, Susan E. Rubie, Elizabeth A. Johnson, Jillian Joss, Mellissa A. Kennedy, Laura R. Robeson, Tammy J. Bertram, Heidi Pierron, Melissa L. Reynolds, Teri M. Owens and Tisa M. Rink.

Fourth Congressional District delegates for Mike Huckabee are Jack Kellog, Susan Wish and Diane Cober.

At-large delegates for Huckabee are Connie L. Richey, Xenia; James Allen Jones III, Grove City; David E. Wood, Marysville; Scott A. Schweitzer, Galena; Elizabeth A. Goodwin, Cleveland; Joseph M. Lange Jr., Avon Lake; Ronald A. Lisy, Bedford; Kenneth L. Caubble, Lewis Center; Anthony W. Buckebay, Grandville; James C. Newton, Canal Winchester; Joy McKarns, Dayton; Roger Gamblin, Dayton; Kathryn Hlass, Batavia.

Alternate at-large delegates for Huckabee are Ryan R. Brown, Grove City; Kenneth Lorow, Columbus; George Edward James, Canal Winchester; Marilyn Lankford, Galena; Marilyn Dowter, Marion; Danielle Greene, Vanlue; Noreen Maas, Findlay; Sandra Sertell, Findlay; Elena Theis, Findlay; Luke Theis, Findlay; Linda Theis, Findlay; Steven Christopher, Forest.

Contact staff writer John Graber at: (419) 427-8417

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