Each of these super delegates counts the same as regular delegates, which are allocated on the basis of the balloting in each state. The supers will make up nearly 20%of the vote at the convention. And each one has as much say as about 10,000 voters.

For some of those voters, the power of these pooh-bahs, whether former presidents or former Senate pages who've never voted, might come as a shock. After turning out at the polls in record numbers, they could find that the decision on whom to nominate belongs to a bunch of party insiders.

The Democratic Party is, of course, free to choose nominees however it wants. It could go back to the days of smoke-filled rooms (minus the smoke) and let power brokers hash things out. It could draw straws, flip a coin or hold a talent show. But to solicit voters' input with an elaborate system of primaries and caucuses and then revert to insider deal-making is a recipe for resentment.

Super delegates were created by the party in 1982 as a way to pick a winner if there was no clear front-runner and to discourage anti-establishment candidates, such as George McGovern, who lost 49 states in the 1972 presidential election. Super delegates accounted for about 14% of the total in 1984, the only time they played a significant role, helping former vice president Walter Mondale secure the nomination.

Having a relatively small group of party elders who stay on the sidelines and step in at the end to help break a deadlock is not an unreasonable concept. But having 796 of them being courted like prom dates is both silly and faintly un-Democratic.

Rae, who became a DNC member at age 17 has already had breakfast with Chelsea Clinton and a phone call from her father. Let's hope he doesn't end up with an ambassadorship before this is over.