Texas Primary Plays Critical Role In Presidential Race
Phil Archer, Mary Benton Report
"We're urging people to remember that this is a two-step process," she said. "Please go back to your polling place and participate in the precinct convention."Clinton remained confident despite polls showing the race was too close to call."I think there's going to be a tremendous turnout across Texas today. And I’m thrilled at what's happening here in this campaign, what's happening in Ohio. It just feels really good," Clinton said. "This is an invigorating campaign and is just hitting its stride."Texas is unique as it is the only state that awards its Democratic delegates by ballot and caucus. Ballot votes will determine who wins 126 of the delegates. The caucus will award 67 delegates while the 35 more are unpledged delegates, including 32 superdelegates.Caucus voting is open to anyone who voted in the Democratic primary. A voter registration card with a Democratic stamp or an access number used to cast their ballot, in addition to a Texas driver's license, is required. Caucus participants must go to their designated precinct at 7:15 p.m.Clinton goes into Tuesday with 1,267 delegates -- 1,031 pledged and 236 superdelegates -- compared to Obama's 1,369 delegates -- 1,184 pledged and 185 superdelegates. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the party's nomination.Clinton was in Columbus, Ohio, to watch the returns while Obama was in San Antonio.Republicans John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul campaigned in the state, too, though most voter interest was geared toward the closer Democratic presidential contest. Texas will send 140 delegates to the national GOP convention, almost all awarded based on the primary vote.McCain would get within 21 delegates of the 1,191 needed to clinch the Republican nomination if he wins in Texas, which has 137 delegates. McCain needs 158 delegates to become the winner.McCain held a rally with Houston supporters at Goode's Armadillo Palace on Kirby Drive at lunchtime.He focused on his Democratic opponents."Health care in America will be when the Democrats tell you that it's free," McCain said.He then headed to Dallas' historic Fairmont Hotel afterward to watch the election returns.
Amy Davis, Robert Arnold Report
Huckabee remains hundreds of delegates behind McCain with 247 delegates. He traveled to Irving to watch the returns."I think there's enormous energy in our campaign and people who are with us know why they are. They are not just pushing the default button on the Republican lever. They understand what their principals are," Huckabee said.Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont also held primaries on Tuesday.
Local Seats Up For Grabs
Several local, county and state races were also on the primary ballot.The Republican race for Harris County District Attorney is one of the most high profile. District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal recently resigned from the office amid an e-mail scandal.Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler, Doug Perry, Pat Lykos and Jim Leitner are all vying for the seat. Former Houston Police Chief Clarence Bradford is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.Michael F. Plagens and Paul Day hope to oust Republican incumbent Sheriff Tommy Thomas. Houston city councilman Adrian Garcia, Charles Massey El and Guy Robert Clark are battling for the Democratic nomination.Republicans hope to reclaim the United States House of Representatives seat vacated two years ago by Tom DeLay. Shelley Sekula Gibbs, who filled in after DeLay's departure, hopes to get the seat for good. She ran a write-in campaign against Democrat Nick Lampson, who won the seat, as it was too late for her to get on the ballot. Kevyn Bazzy, Cynthia Dunbar, Dean Hrbacek, Brian Klock, John Manlove, Pete Olson, Ryan Rowley, Jim Squier and Robert Talton are also on the Republican ballot. Lampson is running unopposed on the Democratic ballot.Ed Emmett hopes to remain Harris County Judge, but this time he will have to get the seat by election. Emmett got the job after Judge Robert Eckles was re-elected and shortly thereafter resigned to take a job in the private sector. He is running on the Republican ballot against Harris County District Clerk Charles Bacarisse. Davis Mincberg and Amad R. Hassan are challenging each other on the Democratic ballot.Copyright 2008 by Click2Houston.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.







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