Noriega caucuses, but doesn't commit

Rick Noriega, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate who was hoping his razor-thin majority in Tuesday's primary would hold up and help him avoid a runoff with perennial candidate Gene Kelly, was among the many caucus-goers at his polling place in Houston.

But the five-term state lawmaker did not state his preference in the presidential race between New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Noriega said his fence-sitting had nothing to do with the fact that the outcome of the Texas presidential primary was still very much in doubt when he signed in at the caucus.

"I'm holding off (on aligning with either candidate) until I get a firm commitment from one or the other that they will be back in Texas for the fall campaign to fight alongside of me to win this state for the Democrats," Noriega told PoliTex Tuesday night.

It might be tough to fault Noriega for his indecision on whom to support. Clinton went on to win the popular vote in the primary, but Obama appeared to be dominating the post-primary caucus process, So both candidates can make some claim in bragging rights for Texas.

But whether the Democratic presidential nominess ever crosses into Texas again remains an open question. Texas has been a rock-steady Republican state in presidential races since 1980, so few Democratic nominees for president have spent any quality time here during the last seven or more campaign cycles. Whether the Lone Star State will be in play this go-round is still subject  to debate.

-- John Moritz