Dems Flood Texas, Obama HQ in Austin
We are told that the HQ is one of six offices the Obama campaign is opening across the Lone Star State. No word yet on Hillary Clinton's campaign office locations in Texas, although it is expected she will spend more time campaigning in the other delegate-rich state that also hits the polls on March 4, Ohio. Vermont and Rhode Island also share the date.
After eight years of having Texas be a no-contest state for all presidential hopefuls, this election year it could play kingmaker for one of the two Democratic candidates. The Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4 have already been dubbed Super Tuesday Two by many news outlets. Between the two states, close to 400 delegates are at stake. Texas with 126 and Ohio with 140 (not counting superdelegates). Austin accounts for 8 of the total Texas delegates.
Right now, Clinton leads the national count by roughly 100 delegates. However, Obama is expected to tie or cut into Clinton's lead in the next week with states that all favor him; Louisiana, D.C., Virginia, Washington, Nebraska, Maine and Maryland all hit the polls within a week (totaling just over 400 delegates). Clinton leads in recent Texas polls by roughly ten percent, but Obama has cut that lead in half over the past month. He is expected to campaign heavily in Texas, focusing on the areas of Dallas, Houston, East Texas and the youth vote here in Austin. Clinton is expected to carry The Rio Grande Valley and the older vote in much of West Texas.
Today, Obama agreed to two debates leading up to March 4, one on February 26 in Cleveland, Ohio and the other taking place somewhere in Texas on date to be determined. Could Austin host a presidential debate? Maybe -- if present trends continue, they might debate in Houston or Dallas, as CNN usually pairs up with the largest newspapers in the state.
Some say March 4th could decide the race. But that remains to be seen. The delegate count will probably still be a few hundred or so away from the desired 2,025 to seal the nomination. It will likely go on well past us and we may even see campaigning in Puerto Rico before it's all said and done. Whatever does happen, Austinites need to get geared up for some hard-hitting political action finally happening on our streets. Get ready for those incessant political ads, rallies and speeches or at least some baby-kissing and handshakes at Las Manitas.
To learn more about the Texas Primary process and look at a district-delegate map, we recommend visiting The Lone Star Project.
