MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Democratic Party closed qualifying for those people who intend to run as a candidate for delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver Friday night at 5 p.m.

"Democrats in Alabama and across the country are excited about taking back the White House in the next presidential election, and that excitement is reflected by the number of people who signed up to support their candidate at next year's convention," party chair Joe Turnham said in a press release.

More than 360 Alabama voters qualified with the Democratic Party before the deadline today, compared to about 300 for the Republican Party. The roster of Democrats is diverse not only in terms of race and gender, accordin to the release, but also in the mixture of political veterans and first-time candidates. Every congressional district is represented on the list.

Though the majority of those who qualified did so as Clinton, Edwards, or Obama delegate candidates, in fact all Democratic candidates on the ballot in Alabama received some measure of support. Many uncommitted candidates also made the deadline. Thirty-four pledged district-level delegates and seven pledged alternates will be elected during the February 5 presidential preference primary.

For an UNOFFICIAL listing, please visit this page on the AlabamaDems.Org Website.