Editing Superdelegate (section)

====Critics====
Critics have assailed superdelegates' role in Democratic National Conventions both before and after the 2017 reforms. [[Susan Estrich]] argued in 2008 that superdelegates have more power than other delegates because of their greater freedom to vote as they wish beginning with the first ballot. (Superdelegates' ability to vote on the first ballot was eliminated after the 2017 reform.)<ref name="Karmack">{{Cite news| last = Karmack| first = Elaine| title = A History of 'Super-Delegates' in the Democratic Party|publisher=[[Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs]], [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]]| date = February 14, 2008| url = https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/history-super-delegates-democratic-party}}</ref> U.S. Senator [[Tim Kaine]], Hillary Clinton's former running mate, said in 2017 that he agreed with [[Bernie Sanders]] that  superdelegates should be eliminated from the process: "I have long believed there should be no superdelegates. These positions are given undue influence in the popular nominating contest and make the process less democratic."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/360587-tim-kaine-sides-with-sanders-calls-for-eliminating-superdelegates/|title=Kaine sides with Sanders, calls for eliminating superdelegates |last=Delk |first=Josh |date=November 15, 2017 |website=The Hill}}</ref> Prominent Democratic strategists [[Bob Shrum]] and Bill Carrick have also opposed superdelegates, and called for them to be dropped from the nominating process.<ref name=Roller/>

The role of superdelegates in the nominating process has also been criticized as unrepresentative. In 2007, ''[[Politico]]'' found that about half of the superdelegates were white men, compared to 28% of the Democratic primary electorate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/02/white-men-hold-superdelegate-power-balance-008535 |title=White men hold superdelegate power balance|first=Josephine |last=Hearn |work=Politico |date=February 15, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref> Of the superdelegates at the 2016 Convention, 58% were male and 62% were non-Hispanic white (20% were black and 11% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]). The average age was about 60.<ref name="WhoAre"/> There is no bar on [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyists]] serving as DNC members (and thus superdelegates); ABC News found that about 9% of superdelegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention (67 people in all) were former or current lobbyists registered on the federal and state level.<ref>Jeff Naft, [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/reason-dozens-lobbyists-democratic-presidential-delegates/story?id=37289507 The Reason Why Dozens of Lobbyists Will Be Democratic Presidential Delegates], ABC News (February 29, 2016).</ref>