Texas System Worries Clinton Backers

Washington Post: State's Convoluted Rules Include Combination Of Primary, Caucuses

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Matthew Mosk.

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Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton are worried that convoluted delegate rules in Texas could water down the impact of strong support for her among Hispanic voters there, creating a new obstacle for her in the must-win presidential primary contest.

Several top Clinton strategists and fundraisers became alarmed after learning of the state's unusual provisions during a closed-door strategy meeting this month, according to one person who attended.

What Clinton aides discovered is that in certain targeted districts, such as Democratic state Sen. Juan Hinojosa's heavily Hispanic Senate district in the Rio Grande Valley, Clinton could win an overwhelming majority of votes but gain only a small edge in delegates. At the same time, a win in the more urban districts in Dallas and Houston -- where Sen. Barack Obama expects to receive significant support -- could yield three or four times as many delegates.

"What it means is, she could win the popular vote and still lose the race for delegates," Hinojosa said yesterday. "This system does not necessarily represent the opinions of the population, and that is a serious problem."

The disparity in delegate distribution is just one of the unusual aspects of Texas's complex system for apportioning delegates. The scheme has been in use for two decades but is coming under increased scrutiny because the March 4 presidential contest is the first in years that gives the state a potentially decisive voice in choosing the party's nominee.

Under rules described in the 37-page Texas delegate selection plan, two-thirds of the state's 228 delegates will be chosen based on the vote in each of 31 state Senate districts. The remaining delegates will be chosen based in part on the outcome of caucuses held on election night after the polls close.

Texas Democratic Party officials said there is a good reason that some senatorial districts yield two or three delegates while others yield seven or, in one Austin district, eight. The numbers are determined by a formula that is based on the number of voters in each district who cast ballots for Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) in the 2004 presidential campaign and for Chris Bell, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006.

The higher the turnout in each district in those years, the more delegates the district will get to select this year, explained Boyd Richie, the state party chairman.

"It's not that anyone's trying to penalize anyone," Richie said. "That's the last thing I want to do. What I want to do is encourage people to come back and vote. We want to have everybody participate."

But Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., a Clinton supporter who represents the heavily Hispanic southern tip of Texas, said the party's formula fails to account for areas where general-election turnout may have been low but turnout for competitive primaries was much higher.

He said his district, which will yield three delegates on March 4, fits that description. Sen. Mario V. Gallegos Jr., another Clinton supporter whose largely Hispanic district will yield just three delegates, says his follows that pattern as well.

"We usually don't have contested general-election contests here," Gallegos said. "I've always questioned that formula, but I've always been given the same answers: 'That's the rules.' I think we need to look at it. I think there's a disparity there that we need to work out for future races."

He noted that the same turnout-based formula that determines how many delegates emerge from the primary vote will also dictate how many delegates can be won in the caucuses -- further diminishing the influence of voters in those areas.

The caucuses have also given rise to a separate concern, according to several top Texas Democrats interviewed last week. Because the state's Democratic Party has been out of power for years, leaders have struggled to find precinct chairs to oversee all of the 8,000 locations where caucuses will be held.

If it is time for the caucus and there is no precinct chair, party officials decided, the task of overseeing the vote will fall to the first person who collects the packet of materials used to run the caucus.

"The first person in the door picks it up and controls it," said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, a Clinton supporter who represents the El Paso area. "So the rules are designed to create a race to the packet. You can imagine what that might look like."

Party officials said most of the duties involved in running the events are routine and are clearly spelled out in the rules provided. But there are instances in which the person chairing the event can influence the outcome, party officials said. For instance, the rules say that only people who vote March 4 can attend that evening's caucus events. If a caucusgoer says he voted but does not show up on the rolls, the organizer has the authority to include or dismiss him.

Hinojosa saw another reason for Clinton to be concerned about the caucuses: The working-class voters who have typically favored her candidacy could be too tired or too busy to vote during the day and then return after 7 p.m. to attend a caucus.

"Anytime you require additional steps, that means extra effort, and that's particularly hard on working families," Hinojosa said.

While Richie said he recognizes those concerns, he does not think Texas will lack enthusiastic voters and caucusgoers.

Early voting, which typically makes up one-third of the ballots cast, will begin Tuesday. That could help reduce crowding at the polls March 4, but Richie says he is not sure what to expect.

"I think all the old models are out the window," he said. "I expect we're going to set a new state record."

[klingon69]

Taddles: you are right as rain. Antizion is a plain wuss that would have washed out in basic and gone home crying to his "mommy". Jerks like that disgust me!
Posted by aldon61 at 03:10 PM : Feb 19, 2008
I went to basic with a young man who washed out. Shattered his shoulder.

[klingon69]

It is virtually impossible for a Democrat to get elected to any office across this state.
Posted by sjbj2322 at 06:47 PM : Feb 18, 2008
Well, Mr Brainiac, how did we wind up with democrat senators and congressmen, democrat sheriffs, Ann Richards as a democrat governor...etc?
In my area, we had Chapman, a democrat. He got booted out after he went back on his word to his constiuents to vote against the assault weapons ban.
Many cities have democrat mayors, council members and other elected officials.
Blame the GOP...GOD, that has become the rally cry of the modern Demos.

[fibonacci_]

Dear former Ron Paul spammer (Prophet),

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

fibonacci_

[tcoleman12]

The problem here, as explained by the story, is that they want more credit for "presumed" votes this time of people who haven''t voted in past elections.

If the people in these senatorial districts had voted en mass previously, this would not be an issue now.

[krisd999-2009]

The caucus system is much better. It allows better candidates to be selected by more knowledgeable people who cared enough to take some of their weekend time. The primary is a way for the media to control the election by manipulating the lazy sheep that can vote by mail- another bad development.

[aldon61]

Taddles: you are right as rain. Antizion is a plain wuss that would have washed out in basic and gone home crying to his "mommy". Jerks like that disgust me!

[aldon61]

Taddles: you are right as rain. Antizion is a plain wuss that would have washed out in basic and gone home crying to his "mommy". Jerks like that disgust me!

[alanrobisch]

should come down to RIGHT or WRONG, NOT whether you like Obama or whoever over Hillary.



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Posted by erasmus6 at 02:21 PM : Feb 18, 20

Hey erasmus these rules were there when she decided to run for office. she''s focusing on what she feels are bad rules because it may hurt her chance to be the nominee. as far as I know each party decides on the way they choose the delegates to the convention. so as far as I know republican gerrymandering hasn''t nothing to do with it. If she had the landslide for her as she was expecting she wouldn''t care.

In polls done among dems she is trailing obama by 7% in a national poll so it isn''t exactly a national outcry she be nominated.

[pensacola88]

Much of this problem traces its roots to Tom Delay, who lobbied fiercely to dilute the voting authority of the Democratic Party in Texas after the 2000 census. San Antonio Democrats took the State Republican GOP to court and not only reversed one district from Republican to Democrat, but also gained another congressional seat.

Dirty Texas politics have kept the courts busy for 40 years.

Texas needs to change color and do it quickly.

[grazinggoat]

CBS News: ''Texas System Worries Clinton Backers
Washington Post: State''s Convoluted Rules Include Combination Of Primary, Caucuses''

-Who cares? she is trailing Obama and she''s gonna lose anyway, anyhow.

[arr967]

Hillary crying "Foul" again. Is this a recording or what? Obama has proved to be a very formidable canidate remaining Positive while Hillary has nothing to run on, she has to attack him personally. You''re witnessing the Clinton campaign going though it''s "Death Throws". OBAMA ''08!

[jokevote]

Hinojoso is either being played or paid. I would hope he was educated enough than this. She wants these votes, thats why she is hitting the Rio Grande valley so hard. She really believes the hispanic community is that blunt and uneducated that they will beleive anything she says. Don''t Let this lady rip appart the Heart of TEXAS.

[realpatriot1]

taddles,

Excellent post my friend. I heartily second the sentiment!

[tibu987]

Be careful.
A lot of insults, slander, and insinuations, will be tossed about in the coming months most coming from the Clintons.
Don''''t be misled by those who try to misinform you.
Do your own homework.
Obama remains, after all that, a breath of fresh air.
Many Washington pols, the Clintons and McCain included, may not welcome a person like Obama, but I do, as do many others.
Obama is a devout Christian.
Insults, innuendos, accusations, and unlimited vitriol will be shouted from the rooftops by the Clintons, as they continue to lose.
Don''t believe everything you see or hear, do your homework and check it out yourself.


A 72 year old white American male and veteran, non-religious

[sjbj2322]

I just love hearing all this infinite wisdom being spewed by people who have not a clue of what they are talking about. Texas politics have been craftily skewed FOR YEARS to favor the Republicans. It has nothing to do with Hillary or Obama. It is virtually impossible for a Democrat to get elected to any office across this state. Moreover, quit inferring that HILLARY said anything or is concerned about anything and read the stupid article. It clearly states that some of her supporters are concerned about these issues and rightly so. In truth they are just as concerned over the issue for Obama as well. Its not an attack on candidates - its an attack on the Democratic party that is an issue in Texas.

[erasmus6]

"John McCain is a very respectable man and I would not hesitate to vote for him under the right circumstances. He would gain my support because he operates as a gentleman..." posted by jake61191

Ahhh, I think you are going to need more than a "gentleman" when it comes to getting down and dirty with the terrorists.

[taddles-2009]

"Screw the vets. If these people had a brain of their own they would have gone to school.

Posted by AntiZion at 02:13 PM : Feb 18, 2008"

I do have a brain and I did go to school just as many of the members of my unit did.

At this time in history the military may be being used for very questionable reasons, but their fate is not theirs to decide. The very fact that you can post a slam on the military without being hunted down and having your tongue ripped out and your thumbs cut off, is a testament to the freedoms you have gained at the cost of the lives of millions of servicemen and women since the founding of this country.

You owe them your undying gratitude for guarding your right to say stupid $hit.

[jake61191]

John McCain is a very respectable man and I would not hesitate to vote for him under the right circumstances. He would gain my support because he operates as a gentleman, dealing with important issues with a sense of collegiality and fair-mindedness. It baffles me that it has been said many times that "Republicans find it hard to support McCain because of his campaign finance reform....". Why would that be a partisan issue? John McCain is a reformer, and a sensible one. However, to suggest that he has some kind of "experience" advantage is... I think.... a bit misleading. He has not been the top leader of anything, whether it be a government, a company, or even in the military. That is not to say that he wouldn''t be a good president.... I believe he would be. Nonetheless.... if Obama wins the Democratic nomination, he will get my support. He is a number of times more the reformer than John McCain is... he is more dynamic, energetic, and inspiring.... and he puts importance upon a much broader range of issues, while at the same time appearing to recognize the less productive aspects of the liberal ideology that informs many of his policies. The best of both worlds would be a leader who effectively promotes the interests of all members of society and who also effectively demands of and inspires all of those citizens toward the greatest degree of self sufficiency and common purpose.

[klingon69]

Now if somebody had said women should stay barefoot pregnant and in the kitchen what would you have said??
Posted by jimmyc1955 at 03:11 PM : Feb 18, 2008
You mean they aren''t?

[jimmyc1955]

AntiZion - Isn''t it funny how many different ways bigotry rears its ugly head? Your hatred of military people and stereotyping them as ignorant and too stupid to go to college is so typical. Since you can''t possibly understand what motivates them you choose to denigrate their reasons for serving.

Now if somebody had said women should stay barefoot pregnant and in the kitchen what would you have said??