This article has two major objectives. First, it offers an examination of some important characteristics of the delegates to the 1976 Democratic National Convention, and comparisons are made with other recent conventions. Those 1976 delegate characteristics are also placed in the context of recent changes in the delegate selection rules. The second objective is to demonstrate empirically the extent to which the delegate selection rules and/ or the group characteristics of the delegates have a systematic impact on the dele gates' candidate preferences. In addition, several other more "political" variables are examined for their relationship to candidate fortunes. All of this analysis is ultimately addressed to the question of why Jimmy Carter was nominated and elected in 1976.
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