Texas Caucus Delegate Count Remains Tied Between Clinton, Obama

March 10, 2008 5:52 p.m. EST

Austin, TX (AHN) - The rivalry between Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) in Texas will be decided by the end of the month. The results of the state's caucuses are still being tallied, but the two Democratic hopefuls are dead even in terms of delegates gained from the contest.

"What we have is unofficial results and they are not complete," party spokesman Hector Nieto told Lubbock Online. "We won't know the official results until we have the senatorial and county conventions on March 29."

The Democratic party of Texas says almost a million voters participated in last Tuesday's caucuses in 8,000 sites. Caucus results were supposed to be reported to the party via telephone but the huge turnout overwhelmed phone lines and made calling in impossible for many precincts. Precinct workers are now working to submit sign-in sheets to county party officials.

Clinton's campaign has accused Obama supporters of preventing voters from caucusing in some precincts. Obama's campaign has replied by saying the former First Lady is "attacking the caucus process" just as she did in Nevada.

Texas has a total 228 Democratic delegates, 126 of which will be awarded proportionally based on the amount of votes a candiate received during the primary, and 67 based on votes from the caucus. Twelve are superdelegates.

Clinton defeated Obama in the primary, 51 percent to 47 percent, but is trailing in the latest caucus returns on CNN. With 41 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton has 44 percent while Obama leads with 56 percent.

The tally in delegate terms translates to a tie, 92-92, according to NBC. Nine delegates from the state have yet to be awarded.