UPDATE: Presidential politics play out in the streets

Visits from two presidential candidates, one former president, and a panoply of politicians and celebrities have aimed a national spotlight on the Rio Grande Valley and Cameron County.

With the rallies now passed, Tuesday was time to decide.

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

The national attention and the very importance of the primary undoubtedly increased voting in the area.

At the close of early voting on Friday, 24,445 had cast ballots in Cameron County, almost 250 percent more than the 10,900 that voted early in 2004’s primary. Hidalgo County reported nearly 50,000 early votes cast.

These votes will help decide two-thirds of the delegate distribution in Texas. One third of Texas’ delegates are decided in caucuses on election eve. 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.”

Caucuses are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.