While Democrats’ eyes are still fixed on the National Convention, the Texas Democratic Party still has to get through its 2008 state gathering, June 5-7 at the Austin Convention Cen­ter. Excitement over gains the Democrats hope to make in November has the party expecting one of its most significant conventions in decades. “‘Unprecedented’ is probably too strong a term, but it’s been a long time,” said Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin. “You’d have to find someone with grayer hair and less of it than me to remember.”

This convention should help finalize Texas’ 228 delegates (126 selected by the primary, 67 through the caucuses, and 35 superdelegates) and 32 alternates for the presidential nomination at the National Convention in Denver, Aug. 25-28. “I don’t remember a situation where we had this many people wanting to go to the National Convention,” said Wat­son. He had talked with state representatives who stood aside from running for delegate this year to give some first-timers the opportunity. “The level of campaigning to be a national delegate is very exciting,” he said.

Technically, this convention counts as tier three of the caucus-chosen delegate process (tier two was the March 29 county conventions, and tier one was the precinct conventions way back on March 4 – primary day). Though the party has been through the first two tiers, the numbers have yet to be formally settled. Sen. Barack Obama is expected to net 99 pledged delegates and Sen. Hillary Clinton 94 (not including the supers), but these are still only estimates. Delegates from the Sen­ate district conventions will sign in and express their presidential preference when they arrive, and this last batch of delegates will be split up proportionately. “That’s the cool thing about a convention: It’s part of the process,” said TDP spokesman Hector Nieto. “It’s intended to keep both campaigns concentrating on Texas,” he added, noting that it had encouraged both presidential candidates to keep offices in the state between the primary and general elections.

But it’s not all just delegate selection and old-style backroom politics. Normally, the biennial convention attracts 7,000 to 10,000 people to its host town, with an economic impact of $9 million. This year, the Austin Conven­tion and Visitors Bureau expects 15,000 visitors, dropping $15.3 million into the local economy. They’ll attend the permanent committees, training events, and Senate district and issue caucus meetings, bringing with them the usual hobnobbing, shindigging, and socializing that such events allow. “The word ‘party’ takes on a whole new meaning,” said Watson.

This article appears in June 6 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.