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Charges of Chicanery Fly in Texas

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March 04, 2008 6:14 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: The Texas Democratic Party has received concerns from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns about the other side improperly padding their caucus vote totals.

The improper padding is allegedly being done by getting primary voters to fill out sign-in sheets all day long rather than waiting until the primary polls close and the caucus process formally gets underway.

These sign-in sheets are the equivalent of caucus votes.

Texas Democratic Party rules only require someone to sign their name and state their presidential preference; Democratic Party rules do not require Texans to attend the entire caucus meeting.

That's why filling out the caucus sign-in sheets early is a potentially serious violation.

In response to the concerns expressed by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns, the Texas Democratic Party has issued a memo setting forth party rules urging both sides to stick to them.

The Clinton campaign is asserting by paper statement that the Texas Democratic Party is rebuking the Obama campaign in particular with the memo's reference to a "given campaign".

Asked if the Texas Democratic Party is rebuking the Obama campaign in particular, Texas Democratic Party spokesman Hector Nieto said such an assertion is not true.

Nieto says that concerns have been expressed by both the Clinton and Obama campaigns while adding that the Texas Democratic Party does not have any proof to substantiate any of the charges. 

While the Texas Democratic Party has a formal process for challenging caucus sign-in sheets, it doesn't come until when the state Democratic Party holds its convention in June, according to Nieto.

"This memo was just sent out to make certain that both campaigns are aware of what the procedures are," said Nieto. "We expect both campaigns to abide by these rules." 

March 4, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (40)

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About 300 of us stood outside in a parking lot in Lindale, Texas, unable to enter the community building for the Democratic caucus because the city council was meeting. We stood in the cold, were eventually told to go to different areas in the adjoining park to meet up with our individual precinct members. Finally at 8:00 we were allowed in the building. At 8:30 I went to a corner of the room to meet up with the other 17 Obama voters in my precinct, where we elected our delegates. In spite of everything, I met a lot of people who had never even voted in a primary before. I also met a lot of folks who were not going to be kept from this meeting no matter how difficult whoever was in charge made it.

Posted by: Mary | Mar 5, 2008 12:07:38 AM

I voted in a caucus today and I know for a fact that the precinct that I was at ran out of ballot sign in sheets and created one with a blank peice of paper. The originals have carbon copies with them. Also, they were telling people that you had to be present after signing in for the caucus for the vote to count. That was not the case. All you had to do was sign the caucus log book for your precinct and you were free to go. But what surprised me more than anything is that some people supporting Obama were signing up on the wrong convention list, leaving their names on it then going to their correct district. So Many issues going on that they system needs to be changed. Once your name is on the paper, the vote stands. People actually tried to get people to change votes once the process was started. Poor politics if you ask me. Bad showing against Obama and his followers. Thats why they are losing in Texas and have already Lost Ohio. Give him all the small midwest states with small population. He couldn't carry a large state with millions in polulation if his life depended on it.

Posted by: Edward | Mar 5, 2008 12:47:04 AM

As a San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas voter. Let me say where I voted we not only had three (3) precients but we were still waiting 2 hours and 40 minutes after the polls offically closed. For the last voter to cast their vote. We were told right off the bat that we had to wait for the last voter before we could caucus. Persons had to present our causus certificate or voter registration stamped and picture ID if we wanted to caucus. Alot of hard working tired people of every color and nationality were waiting unitl after 10pm CT. Just to caucus. Some places have still not had the chance to caucus because some people are still voting. Let's set aside the issues of who should be on which side of the river or fence and get through the process. Alot of accusations where thrown back when Johnson won in Texas. Do we need to go back and see how many dead texans voted then? Who would have known in a time where we have not only a white woman and a african american man running for President that bigotry would be so alive and well?

Posted by: Jamie L. Kopplinger | Mar 5, 2008 12:47:09 AM

Pretty scarry to think that who wins the primary is based on votes from people who have no clue how the process works and such terrible use of the English language and proper grammar.
All the Republicans have to do is get
Hillary on the ticket, she has no chance to win... Obama could win against McCain. God help us all if another Republican gets in... All Americans will be put into slavery to pay the damn taxes and to get us out the hole the damn Republicans already got us into.

Posted by: B Jones | Mar 5, 2008 1:17:40 AM

Well, Why not support HIllary if she wins the nomination? Hey, I like Clinton, I won't lie. However, because of the state of the Union. If Obama is nominated, I will vote for him come November. Any one of the two candidates is worth of the presidential nomination and both would be good for the country. But what needs to be done is no matter who wins, they need the DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT that they both deserve. We can't have another 4-8 years of Republican rule. Its crippling the country. We shouldn't worry if it is CLINTON/OBAMA '08, it should be DEMOCRATS '08. That is what's best for this country. Lets all get out and vote come november no matter who wins. If we don't do that as a people and political party, we are just as to blame for the countries problems as the Republicans. Lets not be two faced. We have shown power in numbers so far these past several months showing that we can not and will not take any more of this crap. The message MUST stay the same.

Posted by: Edward | Mar 5, 2008 1:27:27 AM

Come on you guys! What kind of country can't even get the basics right every time you hold an election. It certainly ain't no democracy you've got there.

Posted by: Ann in Melbourne | Mar 5, 2008 1:29:50 AM

One last thing that all people should never forget. It is sad that it has taken this country to get to the point that it currently is to get people to vote in the numbers that they have these past few months. It should not come to this. We should always be involved and motivated just to make sure that we don't repeat history. We should all be ashamed of ourselves. As it is with record turn outs in texas, there is still only expect to be about 40% of registered voters to participate in elections. That is sad to know that upwards of 5 million people still don't care enough to go out and vote. That is nation wide people. Those people who don't vote are the same people complaining that a gallon of milk is more expensive than a gallon of gas. Don't be a part of the problem then complain about how can we fix it. Fix yourself and the rest will follow.

Posted by: Edward | Mar 5, 2008 1:32:31 AM

Seeing democrats finally getting on board with Voter ID because their candidate (Obama) might be getting cheated because of illegal aliens voting?

Priceless.

Hey, we told you so. Glad you democrats are FINALLY catching on!

Posted by: Jo | Mar 5, 2008 1:52:34 AM

I decied not to vote in the Texas primary. So which one is going to go to the Supreme Court who installed George?

Posted by: RevGregoryh | Mar 5, 2008 2:12:01 AM

Clinton has won Ohio and Texas, the big ones. Good news for her. Common sense tells us that it is a bad news for the Democratic Party. McCain has won the Rep nomination. But Clinton will continue to hurl negativities against her opponent, not McCain but Obama, a Democrat who happens to be the people's choice. American voters have again demonstrated that only negative campaign wins in America. If Clinton wins the nomination, the new registered voters, the Obamacans and the Independents will definitely not vote for Clinton. Clinton is a very polarizing figure in American politics. McCain has chosen to resist negative campaign. He will win the sympathy of many Obamacans, the youths and the independents. That means, 4 more years of the Rep in the White house. The ego of Hilary and Bill will become sober -- if that is possible at all. The Democratic leadership has failed to exercise the necessary moral courage and political wisdom to take the WH. 11 straight win, was that not the time to tell Clinton „enough is enough“?

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Kally-Williams | Mar 5, 2008 3:44:24 AM

For anyone interested in seeing how the "electability" picture looks between Obama and Clinton, I have been keeping track of which states I predict will be swing states (less than 5% difference in 2004 and/or less than 30% Bush approval rating). I also include the Red and Blue states in my counting based on voter turnout. I am not including McCain numbers since I knew he would get their nom. Here is what the numbers look like so far:

For states that have held primaries/caucuses for both parties so far:

Red States in 2004 with higher Dem turnouts account for 78 electors. 52 Clinton, 26 Obama
Blue States in 2004 with higher Dem turnouts account for 142 electors. 102 Clinton, 40 Obama
Blue Battleground States in 2004 with Higher Dem turnouts account for 74 electors. 36 Clinton, 38 Obama
Red Battleground States in 2004 with Higher Dem turnouts account for 102 electors. 62 Clinton, 40 Obama

Electoral totals so far: 252 Clinton, 144 Obama

Clinton definitely appears more electable considering the fact only 270 electors are needed to win in November and there are only 10 states left in the primary contest. She is onto something here... if she can pull out a win and unify the party with the right ticket... I think she will beat McCain.

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 5, 2008 3:58:15 AM

I say we support the person who wins the nomination too. But that does not include thinking they can force the nomination with less delegates then Obama. If that happens, there is no way the Obama supporters would EVER support Hillary in the general election - that's a given.
But does Hillary understand that? I don't think so. Bill Richardson was even saying yesterday that unless Hillary won big, he thinks the person with the most delegates should take the nomination. I am not saying Hillary should bough out yet but Barack did come from 20 points behind last mount to within 3 points in Texas and 12 points in Ohio. Barack just needs to figure out fast that people do fall for the red-phone adds. Sad, but true.

Posted by: Vet_Sk | Mar 5, 2008 4:12:04 AM

dc voter.....as a TX resident and Democratic voter let me tell you that the Latino vote is traditionally Republican.

Last night Hillary's large win in the Latino areas indicates the newly energized voting block for Democrats.

The Texas delegate count has been revised in recent years by the Democrats for primary voters and is heavily weighted to reward urban/black voters in traditional Democrat voting areas and cut the influence of Latino districts.

The Latino crossover from Republican to Hillary is consistantly minimized by the media and often portrayed as contested by Obama pundits. Latinos are for Hillary by large margins....and they used to be Republicans by large margins. Go figure...

Posted by: J Allen | Mar 5, 2008 5:04:56 AM

Yep J Allen - as a displaced Texan, I am well aware the hispanic voting bloc was shifting Dem as was Tom Delay when he illegally redistricted Texas to negate their impact as much as possible. I cant remember if they ever reverted it but I think I remember reading there was a Supreme Court ruling. For some reason, the black voting bloc did not turn out in TX or at least not as many as before. Although, I am not sure it would have changed delegates based on the way TX apportions. I do miss Texas and I am proud of them today!!!!!

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 5, 2008 5:43:46 AM

Alot of accusations where thrown back when Johnson won in Texas. Do we need to go back and see how many dead texans voted then? Who would have known in a time where we have not only a white woman and a african american man running for President that bigotry would be so alive and well?
***************************************
Jamie Did you truly have any doubts? I knew as soon as Edwards dropped out tht the bigots and sexists would have a field day.

Posted by: sara27155 | Mar 5, 2008 6:22:28 AM

Edward, because the citizens of this country have failed to perform their civic duty the military-industrial complex and the Bush family have been successful in there systematic destruction of our country. Unfortunately people only value something once they have lost it. I have serious doubts, but I can only hope that people will reflect upon how much damage has been done to our country over the past 7 years and realize that only they have to power to prevent it from ever happening again. The pathetic thing is that those of us who do care about our country are the ones who suffer from the laziness and irresponsibility of those who can't be bothered to perform their civic responsibilities.

Posted by: sara27155 | Mar 5, 2008 6:42:56 AM

Obama is "the peoples choice" because the people of this country are too lazy to look beyond a good soundbite. If we are lucky one person out of every 500,000 has taken the time to actually read the books Obama has written; one of 100,000 has any idea what his position is on the top five concerns of the people of this ocuntry; one out of 80,000 hsd actually made the effort to read his website. The truly pathetic thing is that if you were to walk down the street and ask 100 people how Obama plans to change the country you would be lucky if 1 person could give you an answer.

Posted by: sara27155 | Mar 5, 2008 6:52:34 AM

why all the fuss about the super delegates inferring they must choose Obama ? one word answer McGovern

Posted by: alan | Mar 5, 2008 1:51:17 PM

The caucus I attended last night in Longview, Texas was absolute chaos. People were let in early and voter registration/IDs were not checked against the book showing all persons who had voted in that district. To top it all off, some convicted felon from California named Leroy Joseph Guillory walked in and started answering questions about the caucus process. And the precinct judge believed him. The precinct judge got on the microphone and said he had been given permission to not check IDs until tomorrow from a Marshal. Didn't finish until 12:10 a.m.

Posted by: texvoter | Mar 5, 2008 8:22:01 PM

I live in Dallas. My daughter heard a student at her highschool bragging about caucusing in Oak Cliff for Obama. This student went with a group of teenagers, was under age and had not voted in the primaries. She was not eligible to vote because she is 17, but because there was no documentation verification at this caotic precinct was allowed to sign in to caucus with her friends. I was poud of my daughter who dressed this kid down for voter fraud. Is this kind of thing happening elsewhere?
Enthusiasm is one thing but Obama must take leadership and make sure his supporters educate these young people. I think the caucus results should be scrutinized carefully. What I've read is shocking even for Texas.

Posted by: concerned tx. parent | Mar 6, 2008 7:06:51 AM

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