This afternoon's Democratic caucuses to elect delegates to the National Convention in August will test an interesting strategy a number of two-person teams are trying around the state. In Ventura County's 24th Congressional District, Obama delegate candidates Jay Kapitz of Oak Park and Sandy Emberland of Thousand Oaks are giving it a shot.

Under party rules, the delegation to the national convention must be evenly divided between men and women. In the 24th district, Sen. Barack Obama will get two delegates, a man and a woman.

Emberland and Kapitz are running as a team, which means that as each reaches out to bring fellow Democrats to the caucus at Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, the other benefits from a two-fer. If Kapitz persuades, say, a co-worker to come to caucus to vote for him, Emberland will also benefit. And vice versa. Emberland told me this week she has even talked the painting crew now working at her house to come to the caucus. Kapitz, also will benefit from that kind of initiative.

With 23 candidates on the ballot, every vote will be important.

Emberland, an optimist, also told me she has already made hotel reservations for convention week in Denver -- she says she plans to attend as a volunteer if not selected as a delegate. She has taken that optimism one step further, however: She also has made hotel reservations in Washington, D.C., for the Jan. 20, 2009, inauguration of America's 44th president.