When the 2008 campaign for president began, it wasn't such a big story that there would be superdelegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. Superdelegates have been at every convention since they were created through Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules in 1982 [source: CNN]. In previous contests, superdelegates haven't enjoyed much of the spotlight. But as the Democratic primaries whittled down the number of competitors for the nomination, a close race emerged between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The two candidates are neck and neck for the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States, even after scores of primaries and caucuses, including those on Super Tuesday -- a day designed to establish a clear front-runner.

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Obama and Clinton debate in Texas in February 2008. Ben Sklar/Getty Images
The close race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (shown at a debate in Texas) in the 2008 primaries caused concern over the role superdelegates would play in choosing the party's nomination. See more presidential primaries images.

As the delegate counts for Clinton and Obama stay close, it's clear that in the 2008 primary season, superdelegates will have a huge impact on which candidate the Democrats nominate for the run for the presidency. Some Democrats have publicly pledged to leave the party if superdelegates don't follow the popular vote. "If the Democratic Party does not nominate the candidate … that the majority (or plurality) of its participants in primaries and caucuses want it to nominate, then I will quit the Democratic Party," writes Chris Bowers, a member of the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee. [source: Open Left].

The term "smoke-filled room" came back into vogue to describe the shady type of politics in which superdelegates could potentially engage [source: NPR]. This image reminds us of politics before Progressive Era reforms, where an elite few could choose the candidate they wanted, rather than the one chosen by the people.

In the 2008 primary season, the idea that Democratic superdelegates could use their status to choose a candidate, rather than supporting the one ahead in the popular vote, places them under intense public scrutiny and political pressure.

What is it about superdelegates that have some people so thoroughly steamed? Find out on the next page.­ ­