Local Democrats pick 59 delegates to state convention

Supporters for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made the predictable pitches for their candidate before the Carson City Democratic Convention Saturday.

But only one delegate switched allegiance.

Amid cheers from the Obama camp and groans from Clinton's backers, Tom Farrer walked across the aisle, officially changing his preference.

At the end of the count, Obama claimed 96 of the county convention delegates to Clinton's 82.

"The last three or four weeks since the caucuses I thought the Hillary Clinton camp has gotten very negative," said Farrer. "And second, I think Obama is the most capable of changing the attitudes of the world and getting us back to basic American principles."

But he said in the general election he would back either candidate over the Republican nominee.

While the speeches and the letters from the two presidential candidates drew applause only from the supporters of each, Obama backer Paul Churchill drew wild cheers when he announced, "It's 332 days until we have a Democrat in the White House."

Fred Kessler, also an Obama backer, drew loud applause when he finished his comparison of divisiveness and social unrest in the Vietnam era to the current national climate.

"Given the last three Texans we elected president have entangled us in wars, we should never again elect a Texan president. They're just too belligerent and the catastrophes they leave behind for the rest of us to clean up are far too costly," he said.

The delegate count translated into 32 Obama delegates to the state Democratic convention and 27 for Clinton.

While that contest is still fairly even in the minds of Carson Democrats, delegates made a clear recommendation for vice president: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Their resolution to the state party cites Richardson's strength in the West along with his Hispanic heritage as strong advantages for the ticket.

"His experience and personality add depth and weight to the Democratic ticket," it states.

More than 250 people turned out for the convention at Eagle Valley Middle School. Carson party chairman Steve Platt said it was one of the best turnouts in years.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., sent a letter to the convention telling attendees "this is an historic time for Democrats in Nevada and America."

He said the caucuses helped add thousands of Democrats to the Nevada voter rolls including more than 1,000 in Carson City.

And Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, said the nation must get past divisiveness and come together again.

"We can't afford the luxury of ugly, partisan 'I'm right, you're wrong' kind of politics," she said.