Obama campaign says he won Texas

Among Republicans, Ron Paul backers prevail in one of two Travis County conventions.

Barack Obama's campaign proclaimed the senator from Illinois the winner Saturday night of the most delegates from Texas to the Democratic Party's national convention after an estimated 100,000 high-spirited Democrats gathered at regional conventions to choose nearly 7,300 delegates to the state party's June convention in Austin.

An adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton, who had an edge on Obama of four pledged delegates after winning 51 percent of the popular vote in the March 4 primary, conceded Obama could have gained on her in their tussling for the party's presidential nomination. But the adviser, Garry Mauro, coordinator of Clinton's Texas campaign, said it was too early to say he'd overtaken her.

"I'm stunned," Mauro said. "That's not the way I count it."

Obama's campaign said he won because of his success drawing voters to primary-night caucuses that started a process to choose 67 of the state's 228 Democratic delegates. His campaign said that process, which continued in Saturday's regional conventions, will leave Obama with a 38-29 lead in pledged delegates, meaning he would overtake Clinton with a projected cushion of five pledged delegates from Texas.

According to results compiled from the regional meetings by The Associated Press, Obama had 59 percent of delegates and Clinton had 41 percent, with results reported from 50 percent of the conventions.

Republicans also held regional conventions to choose delegates to the state GOP's June convention, though Sen. John McCain's primary win in the state was not at issue.

Supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson won control of the GOP's Travis County state Senate District 25 convention.

"There are some new legs in the game," said Rosemary Edwards, incoming chairwoman of the Travis County Republicans.

The final sorting of Texas delegates to the party's national convention in August will depend on outcomes of the state convention June 5-7.

But results from the regional conventions had been expected to show whether Obama did well enough at the March 4 caucuses to overtake Clinton.

Obama leads nationally in delegates, 1,623 to 1,499. It will take 2,024 to secure the Democratic nomination.

Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's national campaign chairman, stopped by Saturday's conventions in McLennan, Williamson and Travis counties.

Even if Obama ends up with more Texas delegates, "we have millions of people yet to vote," McAuliffe said Saturday afternoon. "Hillary will be in until the end of the process," through the last primaries June 3 in Montana and South Dakota, he said.

Obama, who won the primaries in Travis, Hays and Williamson counties, took 501 of 750 delegates to the state convention awarded at the counties' conventions Saturday.

For the most part, delegates— including a record 9,000-plus voters at Travis County's convention — didn't bemoan delays.

In Williamson County, party officials said toward 3 p.m. the convention couldn't start counting delegates until it filled positions vacated when several delegates didn't show.

Some grumbling ensued as alternates stepped up to serve. But Michael Freeman of Round Rock, a first-time delegate, relished the Republican-red county having a Democratic crush.

"Just great," Freeman said.

Gary Griffin, a Williamson County constable and Republican, surveyed the Democratic convention at Stony Point High School, and said: "It's a false belief to say Democrats are nonexistent in this county. I've been to many Republican conventions, and I've never seen this. ... Phenomenal."

Gridlocked traffic slowed delegates to Travis County's convention, which brought together state Senate Districts 14 and 25 at the Travis County Exposition Center. The last delegates parked shortly before proceedings opened at 11 a.m.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin counseled Hays County delegates against considering McCain if their favored candidate doesn't win the Democratic nod. "I am supporting Barack Obama, and I'm proud to be doing it," he said, but he also acknowledged friends who support Clinton. "I don't think the Republicans can win this election," Doggett said, "but we can sure lose this faster than you can say 'Karl Rove's dream come true.' I hope each of you has taken the same pledge I have taken. If I don't get my first choice, I am going to make the Democratic nominee my first preference in November."

That brought a standing ovation in the Wallace Middle School gym.

State Rep. Valinda Bolton of Austin hammered the unity message at Travis County's convention, saying: "Work your heart out for your chosen presidential candidate. But when one is chosen, don't go away mad. Don't take your toys and go home. Stay. Stay with us. There is a lot of work to be done."

Later, former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox, who supports Clinton, nearly brought the Hays County convention to a halt by questioning whether enough delegates remained to keep a quorum. He withdrew his challenge after about 20 minutes and after every member of the convention's nominations committee was summoned to boost floor attendance.

"Let's keep our tempers," convention chairman Jeff Barton said to delegates at one point.

Austin accountant Robert McDonald was elected the permanent chairman at the Senate District 25 GOP convention at Covington Middle School by fewer than 20 of about 200 votes.McDonald said delegates favoring Paul want certain issues, such as the economy, emphasized in the party platform. Platform resolutions drafted at county and district conventions can be considered at the GOP state convention in June.

Kate McVey of Austin was among activists denied a delegate position at the state convention after Paul supporters prevailed at the convention at Covington Middle School.

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