Texas Democratic caucus delegates ready for next step Saturday.

Texas Democratic caucus delegates ready for next step Saturday.: "PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Texas Democratic caucus delegates ready for next step Saturday." Local meetings will determine delegates for state convention. By Kate Alexander, W. Gardner SelbyAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Sunday, March 23, 2008 James Akers of Dripping Springs has set his sights high as a first-time delegate to his local Democratic Party convention on Saturday. "My goal is to go to Denver," Akers said, referring to the host city of the Democratic National Convention in August. "Imagine being on that convention floor when history is being made." For longtime party activists, this kind of giddiness for a local convention is unheard of. "The last one, hardly anyone was there," said David Butts, a Travis County convention regular since 1972. "We probably couldn't have had a good rugby scrum if we'd all gotten together." Riding a wave of newfound enthusiasm from people such as Akers, Democratic Party officials across the state are scrambling to prepare for what is expected to be record attendance at roughly 260 county and senatorial district conventions. Some party organizers were still searching last week for venues big enough to accommodate the throngs (Tarrant County was considering a former Wal-Mart or a large resort hotel near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport), and state party leaders have been dealing with the onslaught of paperwork, phone calls and attention as they prepare for Saturday's conventions. The conventions are much more than rah-rah party events. Campaign officials for Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton expect to learn Saturday who actually won Texas. Although Clinton narrowly won the popular vote March 4, neither candidate has a clear majority of delegates in Texas — or enough to win the national party's nomination. So every delegate is crucial. Once Texas' regional conventions are completed Saturday, both campaigns intend to collect the tallies in hopes of showing their candidate as the all-out winner in Texas. "It'll be 85 percent certain," said Garry Mauro, coordinator of Clinton's Texas campaign. Results from the primary night precinct caucuses won't fully shake out until delegates are finalized at the party's state convention in June, in a multistep and chaotic delegate selection process that is unique in the nation. It has been championed by Texas Democratic Party officials who say it keeps people engaged in politics, builds party rolls and fosters loyalty, and derided by others as an arcane throwback to the smoke-filled, backroom nominating process of years gone by. Texas Republicans will also gather at local conventions Saturday, but the stakes — and thus the passions — are not same because the party does not have the same caucus system as the Democrats and Sen. John McCain of Arizona has already locked up the nomination. Clinton has 65 pledged delegates based on the popular vote, and Obama got 61. But Obama could be leading in the total delegate count, at least according to unofficial and incomplete results from precinct caucuses compiled by the Texas Democratic Party. If that count stands, Obama could ultimately reap 38 delegates and Clinton 29. Everything depends on whose delegates show up Saturday. Both campaigns say that they have kept some field organizers in the state since the primary to work with volunteers and ensure their delegates know the importance of the conventions and that they have been reaching out to them with e-mail, calls and training. Clinton has about 60 people spread out in 20 to 25 cities "working the hell out of the conventions," Mauro said. "We want to protect the integrity of the process, on two different levels," Mauro said. "Make certain that every delegate and alternate elected for us, in the neighborhood of 45,000 people, is reminded routinely and regularly to go to the convention. And secondly, make certain only qualified people sign in and play a role in electing national delegates." The Obama campaign has hired Austin political consultant Glen Maxey to ready delegates for the convention. "One of the trademarks of the precinct conventions was the incredible enthusiasm of the people and their interest in participating in the process," Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said of the Texas caucuses. "What our folks may lack in convention experience, they more than make up for in enthusiasm." Travis County, which Obama easily carried in the primary, will probably have one of the largest gatherings in the state. It is actually two conventions in one: Travis delegates from both state Senate District 14 and Senate District 25 come together in one place, the Travis County Exposition Center. As many as 7,000 people are expected to attend the gathering Saturday, more than three times the number of people who came out in 2004, said Austin lawyer Chris Elliott, whose second term as chairman of the Travis County Democrats will end next month. Many of those people will be fledgling delegates who have never before been to a convention. Among the newbies will be Eugenia Beh of Austin, who said she has no idea what to expect but is thrilled to see what comes next. "After getting my toe in the water this year, I definitely think I will be more motivated to stay involved," said Beh, a University of Texas graduate student and an Obama delegate. "To me, this is a way to get reconnected to the political process and getting back to what I think this country is really about." Veronica Spellings said the experience of caucusing on election night and attending her first convention has made participating in the democratic process more tangible and intimate for her. "You feel like you are representing ... your own small cross-section of the state," said Spellings, a 35-year-old doctor. She said she met many of her neighbors for the first time at the caucus. Andy Brown, who will become chairman of the Travis County Democrats in late April, said he has already begun thinking about how to turn the throngs of new people into party loyalists. "The possibilities are endless," said Brown, who was elected chairman in the primary. This moment is an opportunity for Democrats throughout Texas to reverse the tide in statewide races, Brown said. Democrats, who once dominated Texas politics, no longer hold a single statewide office. Brown said he plans to be outside the convention Saturday, greeting the delegates and encouraging them to participate as voters, volunteers and financial supporters beyond this presidential campaign. The day will begin earlier than normal to handle the most tedious part: the sign-in. Doors will open at 7 for the 10 a.m. convention. Veteran delegates recommend that everyone arrive early and bring their patience, comfortable shoes and a good book. Once the convention begins, delegates will hear speeches from U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin and other elected officials. They will also vote on resolutions that speak to the party's priorities. But the main responsibility will be to cluster with the others from the same precinct to elect the people headed to the statewide convention. That is where attendance matters. Clinton delegate Ginny Agnew, a lawyer who has attended many Democratic conventions, said she expects that "all our frenzy in anticipation will result in a fairly well-ordered convention." In question, though, is whether the Obama-Clinton forces will disagree about the qualifications of delegates to participate. Clinton's campaign has said it fielded 2,300 complaints about procedures in the precinct conventions statewide. The Obama campaign says it does not intend to challenge any of the delegates. Elliott, who said his objective is to have a fair and transparent convention, has designated Agnew and Travis County Attorney David Escamilla, an Obama supporter, to lead the Senate District 14 credentials committee. That committee will take up challenges to delegates being seated at the convention. Agnew said there will probably be some heated exchanges but she is confident that the committee is a group of reasoned people who will maintain composure in the face any madness. "Remember, we are all Democrats," Elliott said. "Ultimately, we all want the same thing, which is to elect a Democrat president in 2008." Local Democratic Party conventions There will be four local conventions in the Austin area Saturday. The conventions are open to the public. Travis County (State Senate Districts 14 and 25) Travis County Exposition Center, Luedecke Arena, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin www.traviscountydemocrats.org Hays County Wallace Middle School, 1500 W. Center St., Kyle www.hayscountydemocrats.org Williamson County Stony Point High School, 1801 Bowman Drive, Round Rock www.williamsoncountydemocrats.org Bastrop County Bastrop Intermediate School, 509 Old Austin Highway, Bastrop www.bastropcountydemocraticparty.com kalexander@statesman.com; 445-3618 wgselby@statesman.com; 445-3644