NORTH CAROLINA -- In the race for the White House, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are battling for more than just voters, they're also fighting for superdelegates.
"The Democrats use this system of superdelegates after 1972 because they were concerned about nominating a candidate that was too out of the mainstream for the general election,” said Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor at Catawba College.
Political experts say superdelegates were created to unify the party.
“Even though the voters may have a voice, superdelegates give the party establishment a kind of voice to balance things out,” said Bitzer.
Superdelegates are elected party officials and members of the democratic national committee. There are 712 superdelegates which makes up about 30 percent of the 2,382 delegates needed to claim the Democratic nomination.
One of the seven North Carolina superdelegates is Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham.
“I take it very seriously and I'm very much listening because I want to represent the people of you now North Carolina,” said Cotham.
Superdelegates can support any candidate they want regardless of how their state votes. It’s a function to this role that Commissioner Cotham doesn't agree with.
“I may vote personally differently myself but i feel like i should represent the people and not just do it on my own,” said Cotham. “But that's just a personal decision. Because I have the right to do it the other but i'm not comfortable that way.”
Clinton already has a major delegate lead over sanders. Political experts say Clinton also has several endorsements who are superdelegates which gives her another advantage.
"So that's kind of sending the signal that indeed the party establishment is behind Hillary Clinton's bid to become the Democrats' candidate and the lack of endorsements for Bernie Sanders really sends a clear signal as to what his chances are for winning the party's nomination,” said Bitzer.
Bitzer added that Sanders faces an uphill battle if he wants to gain more support from superdelegates.
"He can't just win states that are kind of an even split between Sanders and Clinton needs to do monumentally better in a lot of states and the likelihood is that's not going to happen,” said Bitzer.