NATCHEZ —The contest sure to garner the most interest in today’s primary is the election between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Both candidates are vying for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination. To win the nomination a candidate must receive 2,025 delegate votes.

Mississippi has 33 delegate votes up for grabs.

Voters across the state will head to the polls today to cast their ballots in the Mississippi primary election.

While actual presidential voting won’t take place for months still, primary voting has many locals ready to vote.

John R. Junkin II, with the Mississippi Republican Executive Committee, said the Republican primary likely won’t be of great interest to Republican voters since Sen. John McCain “pretty much has the nomination wrapped up.”

But the Democratic primary is still up for grabs and that’s where the excitement for many voters begins. Obama is currently 115 delegate votes ahead of Clinton with 1,553 votes. Clinton has just 1,438 votes.

Rosa Johnson said she will be voting in today’s primary.

“Obama all the way,” she said loading groceries in her trunk. “It’s time for a change.”

Johnson said Obama’s message of change and hope is one that she finds inspiring and vote-worthy.

And Johnson’s not alone. Several people said on Monday they were committed to voting for Obama in the Mississippi primary.

Natchez’s own superdelegate Everett Sanders said Johnson’s enthusiasm for Obama can be seen across the country.

Sanders said Obama’s ability to inspire and raise interest in those not traditionally involved in politics has made him popular with voters across the county.

Head of Mississippi State University’s political science and public administration departments David Breaux said this time last, year few recognized the likelihood that Obama would come as far as he has.

“He gets people excited and interested,” he said.

Breaux also said few thought the Democratic primary would have the relevance it does now.

According to Breaux many thought the primary process would not have gone far beyond Super Tuesday.

And as the primaries continue each one becomes more important, he said.

“Every vote counts,” Breaux said. “They really start to add up.”

And as those start to add up, and grow in importance, it looks as if they might get tallied in the Obama column.

Shirley said she was not fully decided between Obama and Clinton but was leaning toward Obama.

“It’s going to make history,” she said.