Carter favored in Oklahoma caucuses

President Carter is favored to capture more than half the vote at Oklahoma's democratic precinct caucuses Tuesday. An estimated 55,000 Democrats will convene at the state's 2,800 precincts at 6:30 p.m. local time to begin the process of electing Oklahoma's 42 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August. Republicans begin a similar selection at precinct caucuses April 7.

Mr. Carter appears much stronger than four years ago when he won 18 percent in precinct voting and eventually got most of the state's delegates. Party sources say they expect more than 50 percent of the votes to go to him, and perhaps 20 percent to Sen. Edward Kennedy, with 20 percent of the votes uncommitted. Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. of California has failed to attract much support in Oklahoma. Translated into delegates, such a finish would give President Carter 25 or more delegates, with the rest either to Senator Kennedy or uncommitted.