Yes, the Democrats are still counting votes in Texas

With most states having already finished with their primaries or caucuses for the 2008 presidential race, Texas Democrats are the clear front-runner for most poorly run contest of the year.

It's been more than a week now since the Democrats in the Lone State State conducted their much-publicized two-step process -- a primary by day, a caucus by night. And the second part of that dance card remains a muddled mess.

The Associated Press has been keeping tabs on the sluggish vote count and reported Tuesday that results from barely more than 40% of precinct caucuses had been reported to the state.

Barack Obama led Hillary Clinton, 56% to 44%, and if that holds up, the Texas delegation should be pretty much split down the middle (assuming they get this figured out by the time the national convention convenes in late August in Denver). Clinton won the primary narrowly, giving her 65 delegates to Obama's 61.

The basic problem surrounding the caucus operation was that vastly more numbers of participants showed up than officials were prepared for. One would think the stream of stories about record-shattering turnouts in some of the Democratic contests preceding Texas might have led to better preparation, but apparently not.

The AP story has some delicious detail on some of the other obstacles impeding the vote count. For instance, in Hidalgo County, along the border, the tally "has been stymied by the disappearance of county Democratic chairman Juan Maldonado, who changed his cell phone number after losing re-election and wasn't available for several days at his business."

You can peruse the rest of the story here.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[zammy]

The term "Don't Mess with Texas" now should read "Texas is a Mess." I agree Mr. Frederick, you would think the "record-shattering" turn-outs, in addition to the razor thin margin separating Obama and Clinton, would have meant something to those preparing the caucuses. It is these tedious, yet important, unforseen circumstances, which have been mounting, that the Democratic party as a whole does not need.

[Richard Stohr]

Don't forget it took New Mexico a month to finish counting !

[Always Right]

Just imagine having a democrat as commander in chief !!!!!!

[NinaK]

Hillary is being very unfair in demanding that the delegates from Michigan and Florida be seated. Hillary was the only one of all the candidates with her name on the ballot. She was fine with the DNC rules until she discovered ther "inevitability crown" has fallen off her heard. She insists the primariies results should stand. How is it she sees those results as valid and fair when in fact they are not. How is it that she sees the smaller and caucus states as not important and that they don't matter? How is it she sees the caucuses are not democratic?

She is actually discrediting the smaller states and caucus states because most DID NOT VOTE FOR HER!!

The DNC rules should stand. She should not try to subvert them. There were other states that wanted to move their primaries up too, but they abided by the DNC rules. Oh, that's right, if it doesn't go Hillary's way, she condemns and demoralizes!!! She has already caused what well may be unsalvageable damage to the party and the nation with her slash-and-burn tactics, lies, and deciet. Is this the kind of person we want as our leader??? I think NOT.

[Nick]

I know won't it be great after those horrible 8 years of corrupt republican neo-con incompetence!!

[Voted 4 Hillary]

I love Hillary Clinton, and wait yet another day for Madame President

[Always Right]

Wether it's maths or morals,the dems deserve a F-.May
God protect America from this bunch of inept and moraly
bankrupt lice.