by Laura J. Mansfield

AUSTIN - At 9 a.m. this morning I was heading down Slaughter Lane in Austin, when I looked to my right, and out my window was a giant bull made out of metal, staring at me from the side of the road.

Only in Texas I thought, as I headed to an Obama Precinct Captains Meeting, which was being held in a neighborhood park, just past Shotgun Drive.

Upon my arrival, I met Ed Colfax, a precinct captain for district 315 in Southwest Austin. Colfax, who canvassed for Dukakis in 1988, lead the strategy meeting that was attended by four other precinct captains. Their main topics of discussion were about getting the vote out in the next two days, and reviewing the primary/caucus process.

It was obvious when the meeting began, that this small group of neighbors, who never met each other before, really believed in what they were doing. Colfax quickly reinforced the importance of the next 48 hours. “It’s important to convey the sense of urgency,” said Colfax, who handed out detailed Obama folders to the rest of the group that included maps, call lists, brochures, and door hangers.

They will begin knocking on doors and making phone calls today for Barack Obama. It’s a grass roots process that precinct captain, David Quintanilla, firmly believes in. “whoever more people support, is who should be president, we are just showing who we want,” said Quintanilla.

“I am not a morning person, but I will be on Tuesday,” said Luticia Hinojosa, who has lived in Austin for 30 years, and is looking forward to Tuesday’s primary. Hinojosa, who referred to Hillary Clinton as a whiner, called Obama, “a dignified gentleman”.

Precinct captain Adam Donmoyer, who referred to Obama as very intelligent, first him speak in 2007. “I don’t think he’s just fluff,” said Donmoyer.

Krisdee Donmoyer, a mother, and wife of Adam, attended the meeting in support of Obama. K. Donmoyer said she is voting for Obama because, “he makes me excited about the world my son will grow up in.”

Grassroots meetings just like this are going on all over Texas this weekend, as the state heads to the polls on Tuesday, to vote in a primary election that hasn’t been this close since 1988. Twenty years ago Colfax said roughly 13 people caucused, this year they are expecting roughly 200 to turnout. Thirty eight delegates will be divided up between Obama and Clinton at Precinct 315 on Tuesday.

The meeting lasted roughly an hour, and as they headed back to get ready for their plans of door knocking and phone calling, they took an extra couple minutes, and talked about the unity they believed Obama brings to the people. “He’s like Abe Lincoln, he is the bridge builder,” said A. Donmoyer.