This seems significant, as it may be the first real dissent by a high-profile neutral party from the emerging notion that the super-dels should feel compelled to base their choice on the popular will:

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- House Majority Leader (sic)Jim Clyburn said Friday some of his fellow Democratic Party superdelegates have been too quick to endorse presidential candidates and said he disagrees with those who base their support on election and caucus results.

"We're supposed to be unpledged delegates," Clyburn said during a discussion with reporters. "We are not supposed to be pledged."...

While Clyburn said he'd prefer superdelegates not announce their support until much later in the nominating process, he said he also doesn't agree with superdelegates shifting support from one candidate to another based on how their constituents vote in a primary or caucus.

Clyburn said superdelegates are not in place simply to mirror the popular vote. "I don't think people are really thinking through what they're saying," he said.

Not in line with what we've been hearing from many other quarters, to be sure -- and this is coming from someone who considered endorsing Obama. Full story here.

Late Update: The most super delegate, Nancy Pelosi, who will chair the Democratic convention, says that the super-dels should follow the people's will:

"It would be a problem for the party if the verdict would be something different than the public has decided."