Rhode Island’s Voting Too

Mon, March 03, 2008 - 11:55 AM

It is the smallest state in the country, and it’s certainly no Ohio or Texas in Tuesday’s primary contest, but Rhode Island’s 21 delegates could still help decide who will be the Democratic presidential nominee.

In a race where the delegate count is so close, Rhode Island matters, said Tim Grillo, executive director of the state Democratic Party.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have both visited the state this past week, sent their spouses, and in Clinton’s case, her daughter.

“We’ve been getting a lot of attention,” Grillo said, mentioning neighboring Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was walking Federal Hill for Clinton today. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has campaigned for Obama.

“Everybody’s prepared to – like all good Democrats – support the Democratic nominee,” Grillo said.

Texas and Ohio have 193 and 141 delegates to the Democratic convention. But Rhode Island is not the smallest prize of the March 4 contests. Nearby Vermont has just 15 delegates.

--Neil Simon