W.Va. GOP Exceeds Convention Delegate Target

At least for total filings: 1,478 as of the latest list posted online.

But a whopping 915 of those filings are from party members seeking the 610 at-large seats at the Feb. 5 presidential convention. The number of registered delegates assured a spot at the "Tsunami Tuesday" event is 1,173.


(Update: Though the total number of registered delegates increased since the previous posting, the number of delegates Rudy Giuliani can count on actually declined because of the influx 0f would-be at-large delegates. This increase particularly affected the number of uncommitted delegates who have no competition for their seats. Twenty-nine counties now have more at-large filings than available seats.)

The convention plan envisions 1,446 delegates. The difference appears to be more than 200 officials from the various county party committees who were guaranteed berths but who failed to register (the deadline was Nov. 30, but the updates released since then reflect the large volume of mailed-in filings that had been postmarked in time).

More than 40 state party officials also failed to claim their seats, as did three legislators. Several lawmakers actually also hold state or county committee posts, and so have multiple seats but can only fill one.