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Virgin Islanders Chose Obama in Historic Vote
Real estate news By Huffington Post
February 11, 2008 | 10:15 AM (EST)
Democratic voters went to polls Saturday to elect six delegates who will be granted one-half vote each at the Democratic National Convention on August 28th. Another six delegates will have one full vote each by virtue of their "super status" positions within the party. As in other primaries held thus far this year, election officials pointed to enthusiasm for the candidacy of Senator Obama as the main factor behind dramatically increased voter participation at the polls.
The groundswell of enthusiasm for the Illinois Senator's candidacy was hardly an anti-establishment movement in the Virgin Islands. His endorsement by Gov. John deJongh Jr. followed a campaign fundraiser held last fall held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel attended by virtually every elected and Democratic party official (and a few select Republicans, to boot). Voters were given the choice of 18 candidates pledged to Obama and 3 "uncommitted" candidates. Those wishing to express support for Sen. Clinton's campaign needed to "write in" a candidate for delegate.
The significance of this election did not lie with the lopsided result; nor is it the first time that the Virgin Islands have been represented at a national political convention. Few here harbor any illusions that the six half and six whole votes will have anything more than an abstract impact at the convention.
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