Certain contests raising interest

HUNTINGTON -- Although some factors might suggest larger-than-usual participation in Tuesday's West Virginia primary election, local officials aren't so sure voter turnout will even match typical numbers.

While statewide, the number of early voters casting ballots by 5 p.m. Thursday already had doubled the previous record for a primary, that hasn't been the case in Cabell, Wayne and Putnam counties, election officials say.

They suggest that the lack of any hotly contested statewide races, the growing feeling that the Democratic presidential nomination contest is pretty much decided and even the high cost of gasoline may contribute to a lower-than-normal turnout.

"If we had a hot governor's race, there might be a bigger turnout," Wayne County Clerk Bob Pasley said. "The county races will guarantee any excitement there is because there aren't any state races that are raising interest."

Nevertheless, Tuesday's race will feature contests and factors that will have some people energized. Among them:

• The Democratic presidential contest between Sens. Hillary Clinton, who was in Charleston on Thursday, and Barack Obama, who is scheduled to be in Charleston on Monday.
• A Democratic primary that will, for the first time, allow unaffiliated voters to request a Democratic ballot.
• And some hotly contested local races, including the Democratic primary contests for Huntington mayor, Cabell County sheriff and state House District 16.

Heading into the early voting period, voter registration had increased sharply both statewide and locally, with a large portion of the increase coming in unaffiliated voters.

According to the latest numbers from the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office, 57,837 people have voted early and an additional 4,196 have returned absentee ballots. Democrats lead in early voting totals with 40,920 followed by 13,205 from Republicans and 3,023 from unaffiliated voters.

The previous statewide high for votes cast in the early voting period for a primary was 27,226 in 2004.

Clerks in area counties didn't see that increase, however.

After months of registering people to vote and holding voter informationals, Cabell County Clerk Karen Cole said she wasn't sure why the early voting hasn't risen here. Because of Cabell County's geographic size, Cole said, high gas prices might be the thing that is keeping voters away.

"I'm really not sure why the turnout's been so low this year," Cole said. "In talking with other county clerks around the state, this election's turnout is going to be lower than other years."

The clerks don't expect turnout in their primaries to match the number from past recent primaries. In the 2004 primary, turnout was 22,700 voters (40.9 percent) in Cabell County; 13,425 (42.1 percent) in Putnam County and 12,200 (41.6 percent) in Wayne County.

Pasley said results from last week's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina would affect the Tuesday's turnout. According to the electoral math, Pasley said Clinton is too far behind to catch up to Obama's lead in pledged delegates. In Wayne County, Pasley expected no more than 40 percent voter turnout.

Pasley said another reason for the projected low turnout can be attributed to the lack of contested races on the state level. The hotly contested races on the county level, he said, will get more people out voting.

Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood agreed.

A county commission race in the Republican primary and a circuit judge race in the Democratic primary are the only races drawing interest in Putnam County, he said.

"I hope the general election gets more enthusiasm because the primary's been quiet," he said.

Presidential quest

In the Democratic primary, of course, the battle between Obama and Clinton tops the ballot.

As volunteers for both candidates canvassed neighborhoods across the state, Hillary Clinton rallied supporters Wednesday in Shepherdstown and Thursday in Charleston. Former President Bill Clinton barnstormed on her behalf through a string of towns Thursday and Friday, including Wayne. Obama has slated a Monday appearance in the state, with surrogates hitting up voters in Huntington, Wheeling and Weirton on Thursday.

Though Obama leads in national fundraising dollars, Clinton leads in West Virginia.

Overall, Obama has raised more than $234.7 million, compared with Clinton's $189.1 -- almost a $45 million difference, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

In West Virginia, Clinton has raised more than double the amount raised by Obama. The statewide totals are $370,452 for Clinton compared with Obama's $152,319 -- a $218,133 difference. However, Obama out-raised Clinton in March, according to monthly finance reports.

Obama raised $45,858.71 compared to Clinton's $30,206.37 in March, the newest finance reports indicate. The Obama Campaign also hit the ground running in April by opening eight regional campaign offices around the state and being the first candidate to sponsor television advertisements in West Virginia.

Delegate math

While millions of Democrats choose between Clinton or Obama during their states' primary elections, nearly 800 "superdelegates" and 3,200 pledged delegates will be the ones to make the decision.

Since the Democratic National Committee allocates delegates to candidates by the proportion of votes they received in primaries or caucuses, a candidate would need to win a large portion of the remaining votes in the six remaining state primaries to win a sufficient number of pledged delegates to claim the nomination.

In West Virginia, 28 people make up the state's allocation of pledged delegates. When Democrats go to the polls on Tuesday, they will technically cast their vote for a delegate who will represent the collective votes of all West Virginia voters at the national convention.

The 28 pledged delegates are forced to vote in accordance to the popular vote of their represented district.

Though they are casually referred to as "superdelegates," the Democratic National Convention's 796 "unpledged delegates" consist of elected officials and party activists. These unpledged delegates have the right to choose whichever candidate they want during the national convention. Among West Virginia's 11 unpledged or superdelegates are U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall II and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Both of them have announced support for Obama.