Dem candidates scramble for 12 delegates at stake Saturday
From staff and wire reports | Posted: Thursday, March 6, 2008 12:00 am
The nation's eyes have turned to Wyoming as the next battleground in the race for the Democratic nomination for president.
Twelve delegates are at stake in the state's Democratic caucuses on Saturday, the first nominating contest to follow Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's primary victories Tuesday in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island.
Sen. Barack Obama won Tuesday's Vermont primary and was ahead in the Texas caucuses, but late returns showed Clinton emerged from the night with a gain of 12 delegates on her rival, with another dozen yet to be awarded in The Associated Press' count.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama had 1,567 delegates after picking up five new superdelegate endorsements Wednesday. Clinton had 1,462. It takes 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.
With a razor-thin margin separating the two candidates, Wyoming suddenly finds itself relevant as the candidates scramble for the 12 delegates at stake Saturday.
"In the grand scheme of things, Wyoming factors in for us," said Obama spokesman Matt Chandler. "We take it very seriously."
"We have a tremendous amount of grassroots enthusiasm," Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff said. "People have contacted the campaign who are eager to help out."
Only in the last few weeks have the campaigns stepped up their presence in the state. Both campaigns have set up offices, while calling voters and sending mailers.
All the attention has Wyoming Democrats ecstatic.
"It's amazing. It's a once-in-a-generation type of opportunity for Wyoming to have a say in this presidential race," said party spokesman Bill Luckett.