"John W. Boyd Jr. of Mecklenburg County, who gained widespread attention as president of the National Black Farmers Association, received a substantial portion of the delegate support at caucuses in the 5th District during the weekend" (Tyler Whitley, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, April 19, 2000).

"After having visited a number of area caucuses, [Allen] Hale, a native to the Central Virginia area, said the turnout has been poor."

"'Really, you have to go out and persuade people to be delegates, as opposed to competing for being a delegate,' said Hale, a local surveyor, of how the process has evolved."

"In Nelson County, though, Hale said the turnout has been great and this can be evidenced because the nine candidates for delegate prefiled before the caucus was held. Since Nelson County was only allocated nine delegates, the nine that prefiled were accepted and will be representing Nelson County Democrats at the convention. Each stated that they would vote for presidential candidate Al Gore and Democratic candidate Allen Hale (Amy Bennett, The Nelson County Times, April 20, 2000).

"'I'm disappointed that I didn't have more committed delegates,' said Hale after Saturday's caucuses. Hale visited the Charlottesville and Albemarle County caucuses and came away with votes from all 25 delegates in Charlottesville and four of the 20 delegates from Albemarle."

"Hale is counting on gaining votes by meeting with and talking to the uncommitted delegates between now and the May 20 meeting."

"'If this pattern continues, I may close the gap and take some of the uncommitted votes,' he said" (Amy Bennett, The Nelson County Times, April 20, 2000).

According to unofficial figures provided by the Democratic Party of Virginia, "In the 5th District, Boyd received 113 of 154 votes needed to win. Hale received 49, and 97 were uncommitted" (Tyler Whitley, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, April 19, 2000).

As a consequence, the nomination will be determined at the May 20th convention in Rustburg.