Democrats set to start state convention

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX A new poll shows former Houston Mayor Bill White -- the Democratic nominee for governor -- is now tied with Gov. Rick Perry.

Around 6,000 delegates are expected to attend the state's Democratic convention in Corpus Christi over the next two days.

The talk on Thursday night is that a state judge has ruled that Green Party members can be kept off the November ballot after Democrats filed a lawsuit saying qualifying signatures were illegally obtained.

The sea creatures provided an ideal backdrop for the controversy swirling in the state's political waters; Democrats are accusing people associated with Perry for being involved in a scheme to get Green Party members on the November ballot.

"These folks ought to come clean, they ought to tell the people of Texas what, if any, their involvement was in a scheme that a District Judge has already found to be illegal," Democratic Party Chair Boyd Ritchie said.

The reason, says Ritchie, is to take votes away from White. Perry's campaign has denied such involvement.

But there is no denying the fact that the latest report from Public Policy Polling shows White and Perry dead even.

But even the White's own daughter, Elena White, urges caution.

"I don't think you can put too much stock and barrel into a poll this early on, but we're feeling good, and I think the state is ready for a new governor," she said.

Democrats may feel energized, but as Republicans are quick to point out, Democrats haven't won statewide in years.

The real work starts bright and early Friday morning.

Eyewitness News Reporter Miya Shay will be in Corpus Christi covering all the developments from the Democratic convention.