Eight Benton County Democrats expect to be in Denver today, where thousands of the party faithful have gathered for the start of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and they make up more than 10 percent of Oregon's delegation of 65 party faithful.

"We're definitely a big part of the state representation here," said Sam Sappington, chairman of the Benton County Democrats, and a first-time conventioneer.

Of 47,644 voters registered in Benton County, those listed as Democrats total 22,763, outnumbering Republicans here by 8,596.

County Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo, Loyd Henion, chairman of the Linn County Democrats, Harry and Merry Demarest, Joan Demarest and John Pugsley also plan to be on hand for the official nomination of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and his vice-presidential running mate, Joe Biden. The two will face Republican presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona in the general election Nov. 4.

The Republican Convention where McCain officially will be nominated is scheduled for Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis.

Sappington said that he won't have far to go for today's opening day: He already was in Denver on Friday to take part in the annual conference of the Stonewall Democrats, a nationwide group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender party members.

"It's sort of a convention before the convention," Sappington said. "I'm just thrilled."

Jaramillo said she's planning to attend panels on health care, foreign policy, Latinos and women's groups, with many more scheduled that she's not likely to make.

"I'm not going to be able to get to everything," she said. "I think it's going to be a really fun convention."

But the big question for campaign watchers is whether the party will unify around Obama after a bitter intra-party nomination battle between him and Sen. Hillary Clinton that stretched into June.

"Locally, we're doing fine," Jaramillo said. "I think it's coming together nationally."

During the May Primary Election, 69.5 percent of Corvallis-area residents voted for Obama - the highest percentage in the state.

Sappington said the party has endured a few difficult months, but emotions still are running high.

"There's a certain small segment of Hillary supporters who just aren't happy," he said. "But the buzz in Denver is to wait until Hillary gives her speech here at the convention."

The convention in Denver concludes Thursday.