So the national political parties set the rules about how delegates are seated and how they will vote, but the elections happen in the states, which will often add their own individual nuances.

Although Democrats always have roughly 4,000 delegates and Republicans a little over half as many, the number of total delegates awarded can change. It's always a moving target. And a portion of delegates are always "unpledged," so those numbers may or may not be included when delegate tallies are posted.

Basically, Burbank and political experts say don't sweat it — at least not until Feb. 5, when the big boys of California and New York and 22 other states, including Utah, weigh in on Super Tuesday.

"Sometimes that's the best way to look at it," Burbank said. "Just ride it out. It's probably going to change anyway."

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