Texas showdown

With must-win primaries for Clinton in Texas and Ohio, some Arizonans rally to her support

 by Leigh Munsil
 published on Monday, March 3, 2008

John Battaglia / THE STATE PRESS

CLINTON CONTENDERS: Hillary supporters undeclared freshman Mark Williamson and Zach Cook stop for a picture before their trip to Austin, Texas for Tuesday’s primary. The pair did not make it to Texas because of personal reasons.

Political pundits have dubbed the March 4 Texas presidential primary as Sen. Hillary Clinton's "Alamo."

Fearing it may be the senator's last stand, some Arizona support groups are sending in reinforcements.

A "good handful" of Clinton supporters from Arizona are making the trek to cities in Texas to campaign for the Democratic New York senator, said her Austin, Texas, press secretary Kamyl Bazbaz.

He did not say exactly how many supporters from Arizona were going to campaign for Clinton in Texas.

"We've had some great response from people in Arizona coming down," Bazbaz said.

Clinton enjoyed a lead in Texas earlier in the campaign but recently started polling five to 10 points behind Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. New data shows the two in a deadlock in the Lone Star state.

Many political analysts say Ohio, which also votes Tuesday, is a must-win for Clinton. Rhode Island and Vermont also will hold primaries that day.

A poll conducted Feb. 29 to March 1 by the American Research Group shows Clinton and her main primary opponent, Obama, in a dead heat in the state, with 47 percent of the vote apiece.

Independents may be the key to a Texas victory, as they can vote in either party's primary. Independents have consistently polled in favor of Obama.

Right now, Clinton trails Obama in Electoral College votes by 109 delegates and 126 are at stake in Texas, according to the Associated Press.

Mark Williamson, an undeclared freshman, packed his bags Friday to head to San Antonio to campaign for Clinton with fellow supporter Zach Cook.

Williamson said he is "very nervous" about Clinton's chances in Texas because of February polls showing Clinton trailing behind Obama there.

He was not always such an avid supporter of Clinton, however.

"Initially I was sort of divided between the candidates," Williamson said. "I was kind of so-so."

Williamson said Obama's decisions regarding campaigning and gay-rights issues helped him make up his mind.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said Obama refused to take a picture with him because Newsom supported same-sex marriage, and Obama toured with preacher Donnie McClurkin, an opponent of gay rights.

"That really offended me," Williamson said. "That someone like Barack Obama, who preaches hope and unity, would even be seen with someone with such an anti-gay message."

Because Texas is such a pivotal point in Clinton's campaign, Williamson said he wanted to be there to help.

But, despite his intention to remain in Texas until after the Tuesday primary, Williamson didn't make it more than a few hours out of Phoenix because the other volunteer he was traveling with had to return home for personal reasons.

"I'm very disappointed for that reason that I didn't end up going," Williamson said. "It was a little bit of a shock for me because I really was excited to go to Texas."

Even through he wasn't able to make the trip, Williamson said he hopes to make a contribution.

Williamson said he will make phone calls to voters in Texas for Clinton leading up to the primary on Tuesday.

"I'm sure that they have some goals down at the campaign office [in Phoenix], and I'd like to help them meet those," he said. "I'd like to reach as many people as possible."

As bleak as Clinton's outlook may appear to be now, Williamson said he will support her until she officially calls it quits.

"Until she decides to throw in the towel, I'm going to stand behind her," he said. "We need someone who has experience, not just good intentions. No pun intended, she's got a lot of balls — that's the kind of thing our country really needs."

Reach the reporter at: leigh.munsil@asu.edu.