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Texas Caucus Count Still Crawling

According to CNN, only 39 percent of the votes in the Texas Caucus, which awards 1/3 of the Lone Star State’s delegates, have been counted. Obama’s up 56-44.

Why in the heck would it take longer to count the votes in a caucus — which takes place instantly and involves a relative few people — than in the primary?

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.

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Mathematics: the natural enemy of the Texan...

Posted by Tlaloc | March 5, 2008 | 07:17 pm | Permalink
 

Lots of confusion. I was my caucus chair, and still have my paperwork. It isn't officially due till tomorrow.

Obama won my precinct 8-6

Posted by Doug | March 5, 2008 | 07:21 pm | Permalink
 

This story tells the El Paso side of the caucus mess...

None of this is new to the Democrat Party, and that ain't just GOP rage-boy nonesense. The whole caucus system is bizarre, confusing, frustrating and not really in line with Texan ideals -- at least, West Texas ideas of "talk slow, talk quietly, say what you mean and shut up."

The divisiveness and confusion appear to be hallmarks of an all-inclusive, every-voice-counts-equally mindset among Democrats that waters-down agendas, creates self-serving sub-groups and ultimately leads to the Dems losing out, as so often, to the GOP. Dems so often are divided to the point of conquering themselves. Repubs just go in and mop up.

Posted by 4 Borders Pundit | March 5, 2008 | 07:59 pm | Permalink
 

The divisiveness and confusion appear to be hallmarks of an all-inclusive, every-voice-counts-equally mindset among Democrats that waters-down agendas, creates self-serving sub-groups and ultimately leads to the Dems losing out, as so often, to the GOP. Dems so often are divided to the point of conquering themselves. Repubs just go in and mop up.

The Clinton Agenda...split the party at all costs

Posted by jabberwock | March 5, 2008 | 08:43 pm | Permalink
 

The divisiveness and confusion appear to be hallmarks of an all-inclusive, every-voice-counts-equally mindset among Democrats

That's a bad thing?

Posted by Michael | March 5, 2008 | 08:56 pm | Permalink
 

How does Hillary win the popular vote in TX by almost 100,00 give or take and somehow is behind in the caucus by 10%? ...doesnt make sense..I understand the purpose and concept of the caucus..but with that cushion of 100,000 how is Obama up by 10%...FUZZY MATH

Posted by James B. | March 5, 2008 | 09:13 pm | Permalink
 

That's a bad thing?

Of course it's a bad thing! The founding fathers wanted only white landowning males to be suffraged, and, as we all know, the founding fathers were infallible.

Let the peons have a voice and who knows what will happen!

Posted by Tlaloc | March 5, 2008 | 09:19 pm | Permalink
 

According to CNN, only 39 percent of the votes in the Texas Caucus, which awards 2/3 of the Lone Star State’s delegates, have been counted.

Texas has 228 delegates. Only 67 (or thereabouts) are tied to the caucuses.

When (and how) did 67 become 2/3 of 228?

How does Hillary win the popular vote in TX by almost 100,00 give or take and somehow is behind in the caucus by 10%?

Simple. More Obama voters attended the caucuses than did Clinton voters. Just because you voted in the primary is no guarantee that you would go back for the caucus.

Posted by Len | March 5, 2008 | 10:20 pm | Permalink
 

According to the Houston Chronicle (perishable link) as of 11:36pm last night:

Projections released Wednesday afternoon by the Texas Democratic Party based on still-incomplete caucus returns indicated that Obama would receive 98 delegates elected Tuesday to Clinton's 95.

Clinton led Obama in delegates selected as a result of primary voting, 65 to 61, while Obama appears headed for a 37-to-30 edge among delegates selected through the caucuses.

Including elected officials and party leaders with automatic "superdelegate" status, the two candidates are dead even at 107 Texas delegates, with 14 superdelegates still uncommitted.

As for why it takes so long to complete: Everyone knows that getting the dead people in Duval County to vote in alphabetical order is a bitch, since they all have to use the same sign-in pen and handwriting.

Posted by Beldar | March 6, 2008 | 06:48 am | Permalink
 

I'm glad you mentioned that, Len. I was under the impression that the caucuses were supposed to account for roughly a third of the Texas Democratic delegates, and was surprised to learn that James thinks it's 2/3s.

Posted by Boyd | March 6, 2008 | 08:22 am | Permalink
 

When (and how) did 67 become 2/3 of 228?

and

surprised to learn that James thinks it’s 2/3s

Just a transposition of two thoughts. Fixed now.

Posted by James Joyner | March 6, 2008 | 01:03 pm | Permalink
 

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