Caucus Confusion: Sanders Wins One More Colorado Delegate

April 12, 2016

Photo: Colorado Caucus, Boulder, Sanders Supporter (AP) — Dakota Hill holds a sign for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she waits in line to register before the start of the Democratic caucus in Boulder, Colo., Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders earned one delegate more from the state caucuses than the number the party initially reported on March 1.

The Denver Post reports that means Sanders collected 39 delegates to 27 for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Even if Clinton wins all 12 of Colorado’s superdelegates -- a result that is not assured -- Sanders could still tie her at 39 each in Colorado.

Colorado Democratic Chair Rick Palacio today challenged some of the Post's reporting, and attempted to clear the air. In a statement, he said:

"On caucus night, preliminary and unofficial results were posted online in an effort to share as much information as we had in a timely manner. Those preliminary and unofficial results showed a higher level of support for Secretary Clinton than she actually received in a handful of precincts in Denver County. After a verification process, the official results, along with the caucus worksheets, were sent to both Presidential campaigns at the same time just days following precinct caucuses. It appeared that the Clinton campaign did not review the information until last week, at which point they asked to clarify the information previously sent to their team. ... What was posted on caucus night were only preliminary results."

The news comes after the size of caucus-night crowds caught party officials off guard on both sides, and set off weeks of debate about the effectiveness and fairness of the caucus system.

Palacio later apologized on the air for the Democrats' experience and suggested the time was right to return to primary elections rather than caucuses. His Republican counterpart Steve House has made similar statements, as has Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Hickenlooper in the meantime, as a superdelegate, says he is firmly in the Clinton camp.

On the Republican side, after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took all 34 delegates up for grabs in Colorado over the past few days at the GOP state convention, a displeased Donald Trump called the party caucus system "totally unfair."