The results are in — Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by more than 20 percent in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night. But Clinton tied with him in the only measure that counts more than votes, the allocation of delegates.
In order to win the Democratic nomination for president, either Clinton or Sanders has to rack up 2,382 delegates to the July Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. Thanks to endorsements from influential party members — who are considered “superdelegates” in the Democratic primary — Clinton has a headstart, with 362 delegates.
In the Iowa caucus, Clinton picked up 23 more, and in New Hampshire she was allocated 9. Sanders won 21 delegates in Iowa, and picked up 15 delegates in New Hampshire. But Clinton has won the endorsement of six of New Hampshire’s eight superdelegates, so when it comes down to brass tacks, both won 15 delegates in New Hampshire.
On the Republican side, it only takes 1,237 delegates to win. Real estate tycoon Donald J. Trump leads with 17 delegates, Texas Senator Ted Cruz comes in second with 11, Florida Senator Marco Rubio has ten, Ohio Governor John Kasich has five, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has three, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has three. Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore has zero.
Despite the essential tie in Iowa and Sanders’ big win in New Hampshire (60.4 percent to Clinton’s 38.0 percent), Clinton is walking away with the more vital support — 394 delegates as opposed to Sanders’ measly 44. From New Hampshire, they both got 15 — so it’s a tie.
Superdelegates: because some people are more equal than others. https://t.co/jHSLX4UyYW
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) February 10, 2016
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