"For most Democrats, winning this election in November is vital, and, like me, they will happily vote for either you or [the other Senator]. Our concern is that this primary may end up in a brokered convention, where the candidate may be chosen not by a democratic popular vote, but by backstage wrangling and deal-making. Such an outcome would be bad all the way around for the Democratic party, so, would you join Sen.[ ] and agree that the candidate with fewer elected delegates step down as soon as it becomes apparent who that will be?
A lot has been written about the idea of a brokered convention and the problems that would bring for the Democratic party, so I won't go into detail here, but I think such an outcome would work to the detriment of either candidate, regardless of who gets chosen at the convention.
An agreement or a public pledge like this (maybe in conjunction with something similar by superdelegates) might help us avoid that.
I've heard Katrina VanDenHeuval and a few others argue that a brokered convention may be a good thing for the Democrats (e.g., McCain and Repubs won't know who to attack from now until August), but I don't buy it because of problems like the following that I see with a brokered convention:
--McCain given more time to consolidate Repubs around him and to fundraise without having to go on defense too early
--Dems sniping at each other all summer
--Less time for Dem candidate to organize, consolidate party before Nov.
--Possibility of superdelegates choosing candidate who seems to have less popular support going in (and the undemocratic image that puts forward--superdelegates are Dem party leaders, who have been elected with, perhaps, billions of votes, but the current framing of them makes them look like party bosses in smoky backrooms)
--Possibility of subsequent disenfranchising of large groups of candidate supporters. (This would be especially negative should Obama be in the position of losing out to Clinton after holding a delegate or popular vote lead because he seems to bring in a lot of new voters, independents, and young people who may very well not get behind Clinton if they perceive her to have "stolen" the election from him.)
I'd like to see the Superdelegates come forward with the same, or a similar pledge, say: I pledge to vote with the leader/the person who wins my state's primary or caucus.
[yeah, I know, Politico. But the opportunity was there.]