Texas To Weigh In Heavily For March 4 Primary

EL PASO — Democratic candidates are expected to loom large over Texas before the March 4th primary, as the front-runners continue their quest for delegates.

That could mean that issues close to Texas voters will form a big part of the campaign platforms.

“The issues have always been in the forefront, We’re just hoping the candidates will actually do something about them,” said Gregory Rocha, a political science professor at UTEP. “There are still some big, delegate rich states still out there — and we’re lucky to live in one of them.”

Rocha said the winning candidate has to set him or herself apart early. “Fifteen-to-20 percent of voters say they go into the last few days not knowing who they’re going to vote for. There’s always that chance,” he said.

Local Republican leaders say so far, none of their candidateshas planned a swing through El Paso.

So far, the only presidential contender with a scheduled stop in the city isSen. Hillary Clinton onFeb. 11.

Texas has 228 Democratic delegates up for grabs that are awarded to candidates according to a complicated state party formula.

The top vote-getter among Republicans will pick up 140 delegates in the state’s winner-take-all system.