Bill Clinton took an early lead in Virginia Democratic caucuses Saturday as the ailing Arkansas governor watched from home and presidential rival Jerry Brown campaigned in California.
Final results won't be known until Monday night when most of the state's rural caucuses complete their business.With about a third of the results in, Clinton was winning with 43 percent to 35 percent for an uncommitted slate and 22 percent for Brown, according to state Democratic Chairman Paul Goldman.
Goldman said further Clinton gains were expected when more results were expected late Saturday night from the Virginia suburbs near Washington, D.C.
"There's nothing here to indicate that Virginia feels any differently than any of the other Southern states," Goldman said. The Democratic front-runner has swept the Southern primaries thus far.
"I think we're going to end up real strong," said Craig Sutherland, a Clinton organizer. "It's pretty much exactly what I expected."
Brown, before leaving Virginia on Friday, appealed to Democrats to fight "against the odds" and support him in the caucuses, the first step in picking the state's 78 pledged presidential delegates.
The former California governor said that would "send a message" of grass-roots discontent over the influence of money in politics.
The level of support the candidates receive at the caucuses will largely determine their share of the 78 pledged delegates to be chosen later at district and state conventions. Virginia also will send 19 unpledged "super delegates" to the Democratic National Convention.