On This Day In 1982

Jan. 15, 1982:

Democratic superdelegates helped Walter Mondale win his party's prez nomination in 1984

The Democratic National Committee changed the rules for its 1984 delegate selection, announcing the creation of "superdelegates" — party regulars and elected officials — who would automatically become delegates at the convention. The change was orchestrated by North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro, who headed up a party commission looking at changing the nominating process.

The move was seen as an indication that Democrats did not want to see a repeat of what happened in 1972, when an outsider like George McGovern could win the party's presidential nomination, and repeated in 1976, when a similar outsider like Jimmy Carter won the nomination. By making Democratic governors, members of Congress, and state party officials automatic delegates, Democrats were saying that it was time for the "adults" in the party to put their foot down when it came to nominating presidential candidates.

(P.S. The first Democrat to benefit from this change in the rules was Walter Mondale, the former vice president, who won the 1984 presidential nomination thanks in part to the role played by the superdelegates. Mondale lost 49 of 50 states that year to President Reagan.)

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