An inside look from a volunteer on the ground in Texas

[Clinton Crusader]

Re-posted with permission. It's tugh down there!
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It has been a very long day. We have been contacting precinct chairs and offering training to make sure they understand what to expect at the caucus (they call it the precinct convention) and how to hold on to their Hillary delegates. Texas has been doing this "part primary/part caucus" for more than 20 years, but this is the first time the caucus will have any significance.

I am amazed at the large majority of voters we have contacted that know nothing of the caucus, and yet it is where one-third of the delegates are decided.

Hillary and Obama are in a dead heat here in Texas, though people continue to be surprised when we bring up the facts. Austin is a more liberal part of Texas and the war in Iraq seems to be the biggest concern. In talking to an Obama precinct chairperson today who seemed very well informed, I commented to him that he was obviously well informed and so how did we reconcile the fact that since being in the Senate Obama's votes on Iraq have only been to support the war. He voted for funding of the war as did Hillary. However, he continues to croon on in Texas how is the only candidate who has been against the war since the
beginning. The precinct fellow I was talking to was very quiet and then said he would have to check it himself. Amazing.

There is a huge difference in the caucus process in Texas compared to Washington. Each precinct is assigned a chairperson and then a precinct "captain" for each candidate. In addition, there are Precinct Judges who oversee the entire process and are represented by each party. After reading and attending the Texas caucus training, it makes me realize how slack and unstructured the Washington caucus is. It sort of seems anything goes in Washington including mishandling of ballotting and
unethical attempts to prevent people from speaking (you all know what I'm talking about). In Texas, there are about 3 layers of checks, the precinct chair, the precinct captains, and the precinct judges, as well as the regional judges. Only Democrats are allowed to participate in the caucus and to do so they must have voted in the primary and voted for a Democrat. They receive a stamped ticket that allows them into the caucus. The caucus is held immediately after the polls close at 7 pm and is carefully watched by judges who are not allowed to vote in their precinct.

I have been asked to share my experiences at our caucus continued to do so today during the training. The Hillary supporters are very hungry for information and are all concerned about making sure they get it right. We will be working all day long on election day transporting people to the polls but specifically between 6:30 and 7:00 pm to the precinct conventions.

The people here are very warm and friendly, and I am touched by the diversity of people here at the headquarters. Each day we team up and today I was teamed with two African Americans, one Hispanic lady, and a guy who looked like a healthy Texas football player but I later found out had been diagnosed with HIV 3 years ago. I especially appreciated hearing all the different perspectives. We aren't being teamed up in a purposely way, but instead by just moving into a table or group, and it has been an amazing experience.

The volunteer effort is amazing. We have people bringing in lots of food to headquarters throughout the day -- they are feeing 300 to 900 people each day. There is a guy who is in charge of all the food, drinks and organizing the tables and he is wonderful. I know how tired he must be because he is there from 8:30 am each morning until 9:30 pm at night and then does clean up afterwards. The dedication is very inspiring.

There is a huge contingency of female students from UT Austin who are supporting Hillary and are they ever focused and efficient. Dang I like watching those young women pulling everyone together and running their own show.

Today was the last day anyone could early vote, and we made our last efforts to get out the vote to those early voting places. Tomorrow we step up efforts at block walking with literature drops and door knocking, then on for visibility events in the evening. Sunday will be much of the same and also providing more caucus training. Monday will be an all-out blitz to re-contact known supporters and schedule transportation.

If I do go to San Antonio, it will probably be Monday, but my help here is badly needed, so I may end up staying in Austin.

Sorry if this seems sort of rambling -- I'm writing this late at night after a long day. I am so happy to be here and feel fortunate to have a chance to work for Hillary's campaign here at the ground level in Texas.

As always, the media loves Obama. When he is ahead by 1 point, they say he is ahead. If Hillary is ahead by one point, they say it is a dead heat -- go figure.

The sun is still shining!!!!

Cathy

[libbygurl]

1. Am glad UT Austin's Daily Texan newspaper endorsed Hillary, too!

I do hope HRC gets the majority of Texas votes.

Although I don't really understand why there's an early vote as well as a caucus vote in TX! Not that I've researched that too deeply at this point.

[rodeodance]

3. they are old old rules--recently dusted off now that TX really is in the limelight. Then

the potential lawsuits from both camps.

but none until after march 4th for both--regardless of what the obamafolk are lying about 'out there"

i tack this onto a lot of posts--they continue to diss hillary.


"Spokesmen for both campaigns said there were no plans to sue ahead of the March 4 election."
http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/510802.html

[libbygurl]

4. Thanks for the info, rodeo!

The Obama people will stop at nothing to pillory Clinton for every damn thing she says or does. They are vicious! Sound and act more like fascist Republicans with every passing day.

[rodeodance]

5. there must have been 30 + threads all saying Hillary is going to sue. but

as far as i know-from the newspapers it was from an un identified source!!

dems in tx did the rest (obama supporters.)

but fact is--no suits until after march 4th--if then from BOTH.

deserves its own thread cause they ignor this.
of course if had its own thread they would beat it to a pulp.
dammmmmmmmmm

[rodeodance]

2. whow-----and thank you so so much for your work.

[jillan]

6. Thank you for all you are doing!

:yourock: