Easley's a superdelegate free agent
Gov. Mike Easley is one of North Carolina's Democratic superdelegates, and he doesn't feel bound to follow the state's popular vote when deciding between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Easley hasn't yet made up his mind between them, he said in an informal conversation in Chapel Hill yesterday before he addressed a gathering of North Carolina editorial writers.
I think superdelegates were meant to be free agents, but some people might be troubled by the idea that a few individuals in effect could negate the will of the majority as expressed in a primary. That's a distinct possibility. In fact, superdelegates likely will determine the nomination, and the outcome might not fall in line with the wishes of most rank-and-file Democrats.
Imagine if, for the general election, some Electoral College electors could cast their ballots however they wanted. That's the power superdelegates have in the nominating process.
Easley and other superdelegates won't be abusing their power if they contradict the vote of the people of their state because they have the power to do as they like -- whether anyone else likes it or not.