Austin: How Many Democrats Can It Hold?

Just when you thought Travis County couldn't get any darker blue, The Texas Democratic Convention will bring an estimated 15 thousand people to the capital city beginning tomorrow. Keeping with the record-breaking trends the Democrats have been setting during the primary season, this year's expected convention turnout will be a 50% increase from recent conventions hosted by the Party of Jackson.

Even Republicans have a reason to smile at the economic boom Austin will receive from the invasion of Democrats. Past conventions have left Austin with $9 million in revenue and this year is expected to bring a roughly $15 million impact. As the Austin Business Journal reported, even most downtown hotels are booked solid, and have been for weeks.

Party spokesman Henry Nieto told the Business Journal that "part of the reason for the increase is that more delegates were allotted than at any other convention we've had," but he also recognized the historic primary battle between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as a major reason for the increased interest in party politics at such an early stage in the election.