Gail Suttle will be all ears for the next few days.

As a delegate to the first-ever Texas Republican straw poll, the 71-year-old wants to hear what both candidates and her fellow delegates have to say.

On Saturday, with potentially thousands of others, she'll make her pick in the nonbinding presidential poll. "Honestly, I do not know who I'll vote for," said Suttle, who flew in from Austin on Thursday. "I just want to hear what I'll hear and then decide.

"It's disappointing more candidates aren't coming, but it's understandable with the other campaigning they have to do."

Few of the 12 candidates on the ballot this weekend -- and none of the front-runners -- are expected to show. And delegate crowds initially projected to exceed 10,000 will likely be far less.

"This poll matters," said Bruce Buchanan, a government professor at the University of Texas at Austin. "It doesn't have the cachet that Iowa does. But it could help whoever comes out of here with high margins get a little notoriety and attention.

"Texas is a big, important state," he said. "The country and the state will be interested to see what Texas Republicans think of the field -- whether the candidates are here or not."

Local Democrats aren't so sure.

"Since these Republican candidates aren't coming in, there's been kind of a groundswell of support to have me come and talk to them," joked Art Brender, chairman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party.

Starting today, potentially thousands of Republicans will crowd into downtown to attend the two-day event at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

About two-thirds of the GOP presidential hopefuls won't be there. Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee are among those who have pulled out.

Some have scheduling conflicts. Others aren't attending any straw polls. Brownback's reason, a staffer said, is that the poll's results "would be less meaningful" because the top candidates won't be present.

Republican officials say five candidates will be here: U.S. Reps. Ron Paul of Surfside and Duncan Hunter of California, Georgia mechanical engineer Ray McKinney, Alabama psychiatrist Hugh Cort and Illinois attorney John Cox.

Present or not, all GOP candidates will be on the ballot.

Events

Today

7 a.m.: Registration starts and exhibit hall opens

9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Grassroots campaign training

4:30-6:30 p.m.: State Sen. Kim Brimer's reception at the Hilton (invitation-only)

5-8 p.m.:The Hugh Hewitt Show live broadcast. Can be heard locally on KSKY/660 AM.

7 p.m.: Republican Party of Texas banquet; $75 per person

8:30 p.m.: Ron Paul Pride of Texas Freedom Rally at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel; $25 per person

9 p.m.: U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess' reception at the Renaissance Worthington, open to anyone attending the straw poll

Saturday

6 a.m.: Registration starts and exhibit hall opens

9 a.m.*: Opening ceremony, opening remarks, candidate speeches. Speakers include Texas Republican Party Chairman Tina Benkiser, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams and Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Noon (approximately): Voting to begin

2 p.m. (approximately): Tallying of votes to begin

3:30 p.m. (approximately): Winner to be announced

* Outside the convention center, anti-war activists will hold a daylong fair and conduct what they call the American People's Poll on Iraq to determine whether locals think it's time for troops to come home. That poll will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the outdoor event will include a peace rally from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The poll results should be released around 5 p.m.

Sources: Republican Party of Texas, Texans for Peace

If you go

You can still sign up to be a delegate if you have been a delegate or an alternate to at least one of the past four Republican state conventions or one of the last two national conventions. The cost at the door: $75. Or you can go as a guest with a delegate you know. The cost at the door: $25. The event starts at 9 a.m. Saturday.

To participate in the American People's Poll on Iraq, show up at General Worth Square on Main Street between Eighth and Ninth streets, near the convention center. Volunteers will take the poll from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The event is free, but organizers ask that attendees print out tickets from their Web site to help track attendance. Pre-rally entertainment begins at 1 p.m. and a peace rally will be held from 1:30 to 3:30.

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