Valley Still ‘Clinton Country’

Visits from two presidential candidates, one former president, and a panoply of politicians and celebrities have brought national attention to Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley in recent weeks. With the rallies and meet-and-greets over Tuesday, it was South Texas’ turn to decide.

For the first time in recent memory, this region played an integral part not only in the statewide primary, but in the nomination of a presidential candidate.

As of press time, Cameron County showed a significant preference for Hillary Clinton. At press tiome, she had 30,688 votes (68 percent) to Barack Obama’s 13,710 (30.3 percent) With 33 percent of Texas precincts reporting, she was leading statewide by 21,000 votes (2 percent).

The national attention —and the very importance of the primary — undoubtedly increased voting in South Texas. More than 24,000 people voted early in Cameron County, almost 250 percent more than the 10,900 that voted early in the 2004 primary. But one-third of Texas’ delegates come from caucuses on election eve, and as of Tuesday afternoon, turnout at the caucuses remained an uncertainty.

Before the sun rose on Tuesday, local Obama and Clinton volunteers were on their way to precincts and busy thoroughfares to campaign for their candidates —and to remind them that in Texas one vote is not enough.

“We are thanking them for voting,” said Obama supporter Tony Martinez, “and we’re reminding them to go back to their precincts to caucus.”

Clinton supporters acted similarly, explaining the precinct convention process to voters in person and over the phone. “We don’t want to have a ton of events because we want people to get out to the polls,” said Dana Edelstein, Clinton’s South Texas press secretary. “We’re pushing people to get to caucuses as soon as they can.”

Hours before the caucuses began, there was already controversy. Clinton Campaign State Director Ace Smith issued a statement claiming that, “We have received numerous reports that the Obama campaign is violating Texas Democratic Party rules by circulating precinct convention sign in sheets in advance and are having them filled in now. These underhanded tactics undermine the process that all parties agreed to.”

The Obama campaign made similar accusations. In a prepared statement, Obama for America Texas State Director Adrian Saenz wrote, “We have reported several specific incidents of Clinton campaign supporters seeking to circumvent the rules and illegally boost their caucus performance by soliciting signatures on precinct convention sign-in sheets — even before the caucuses have started.”

When caucuses began, many local precincts reported problems. There were missing rosters, long lines, and unprepared staffs. After caucuses closed, voters headed toward campaign parties. Clinton supporters gathered around televisions at Elva’s Mexican restaurant and Obama supporters went to Spanky’s.

Aside for the distinction in cuisine, the atmosphere in both restaurants was the same. With the race in a dead heat, both camps hunkered down for what would be a long night.