Candidates hit the road to prepare for weekend primaries, caucuses

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Candidates hit the road to prepare for weekend primaries, caucuses

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Louisiana, a state physically and economically damaged by Hurricane Katrina, could be a key political state this year -- something not lost on both Democratic campaigns as they drum up last-minute votes. "If you look at Louisiana the last two elections, if we'd gone the other way in either election, George Bush wouldn't be president," said Clancy Dubos, a columnist with the Gambit Weekly -- an alternative newspaper in the state. For residents in Louisiana, their choice in a candidate will be largely based not only on national issues such as the economy and health care, but also rebuilding efforts in the hurricane-stricken area. Voters in New Orleans are especially desperate to hear the candidates' plans for a city still on the brink and a state in desperate need....

Louisiana is among several contests being held this weekend. At stake are 182 Democratic delegates and 92 Republican delegates....

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Sen. Barack Obama has...done well in caucus states...because he has been able to generate enthusiastic crowds and volunteers. He also picked up the endorsement of Washington's governor, Christine Gregoire, on Friday. Support for Obama could come from some of the upscale areas around Seattle, which have favored reform-minded candidates, but Sen. Hillary Clinton might be favored in some of the more blue-collar areas, where she has been favored in earlier contests.

The large African-American population in Louisiana could also provide Obama a win there like it did in South Carolina two weeks ago and in Alabama and Georgia on Super Tuesday. Black voters made up 46 percent of Democratic voters in the 2004 Louisiana primary. Those numbers are striking a chord among the candidates as they crisscrossed the country Friday stumping for votes. Clinton attended town hall meetings in Tacoma and Spokane, Washington, on Friday. Obama, meanwhile, took part in a rally in Seattle....

CNN has compiled a list of states and territories holding contests this weekend.

February 9

...*LOUSIANA Republican and Democratic primaries

Republican participation: Closed primary

Delegates: 20 pledged delegates possibly at stake

Democratic participation: Closed primary

Delegates: 56 pledged delegates at stake

*NEBRASKA Democratic caucuses

Participation: Closed. Any voter can, however, register as a Democrat at the caucus.

Delegates: 24 pledged delegates at stake...

*WASHINGTON State Democratic, Republican caucuses

Democratic participation: Open caucuses, in which any voter can participate, but must declare that he or she is a Democrat.

Delegates: 78 pledged delegates at stake.

The February 19 Washington State primary is a nonbinding beauty contest for Democrats.

Republican participation: Open, so any voter can participate, but must sign a declaration indicating that he or she is a member of the Republican Party and has or will not participate in the 2008 precinct caucus or convention system of any other party.

Delegates: 18 pledged delegates at stake....

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February 10

*MAINE Democratic caucuses

Participation: Democrats hold closed primaries. New voters, as well as voters not registered in a political party, may register as Democrats at the caucus.

Republicans and Green Party members must become registered Democrats by January 26 in order to participate in the Democratic caucus.

Delegates: 24 pledged delegates at stake.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/09/feb.9.contests/index.html