Yesterday was “Super Tuesday” in the United States. This is the name given to the Tuesday in March (sometimes in February) when the most states have their primaries to select delegates for the national conventions. (Recall, it is at these national conventions where each party officially nominates its candidate for the presidential election in November.) Why is it called “Super” Tuesday?
“Super Tuesday” gets its name from the important role it plays in presidential election politics. Since it is the day when the most states have their primaries, it means that there is the potential to win more delegates on this day than any other single primary / caucus day. This year, in 2012, there are a total of 410 delegates up for grabs for Republican candidates. These 410 delegates come from primaries in the following states: Georgia (76), Idaho (32), Massachusetts (41), North Dakota (28), Ohio (66), Oklahoma (43), Tennessee (58), Vermont (17), and Virginia (49), along with delegates from a two-week caucus in Alaska from March 6 – 24. Since the primaries that are held on Super Tuesday are spread throughout the nation (instead being concentrated in a particular region), this means that Super Tuesday can, in a sense, be regarded as a kind of test for the presidential candidates – if a candidate does well on Super Tuesday, he will probably do well in a national election, and it makes him a more attractive candidate for the nomination. Many times, the candidate that wins most of the delegates from Super Tuesday will go on to get his party’s nomination.