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From the Puako General Store on the Big Island to the Kapaa Neighborhood Center on Kauai, Democrats from around the state will gather tonight to select a presidential nominee.

Hawaii is one of 14 states holding either Democratic primary elections or party caucuses as part of the campaign season's "Super Tuesday."

Vice President Al Gore has the support of nearly all of Hawaii's major Democrats, including the governor, lieutenant governor and all four members of the state's congressional delegation.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, meanwhile, has picked up a potpourri of supporters including Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and Honolulu Councilman Duke Bainum.

The votes cast tonight will determine how 14 of the 33 delegates will be apportioned, said Walter Heen, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman.

A candidate must get at least 15 percent of the votes cast tonight to be eligible for any delegates.

The remaining 19 delegates are selected by the party's central committee at the close of the party's state convention. Seats traditionally go to the governor, lieutenant governor, four congressional members, and the party's chairman, vice chairman and executive director.

Hanabusa, spokeswoman for the local Bradley campaign, said the organization wants to pick up at least half the available delegates this evening.

"We at least want to keep up with Gore," Hanabusa said. The diverse group of Bradley supporters, she said, "like him because he really does have an ability to look to the future and make a difference."

Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, chairwoman of the local Gore campaign, predicted that Gore will secure at least a majority of the delegate seats up for grabs tonight.

"We feel pretty good that we've got our message across that he's a friend to Hawaii and in support of education, health care and other issues of importance to us," she said.

Heen said he's seen spirited lobbying of Democratic card holders from supporters of both Gore and Bradley.

Technically, anyone registered as a Democrat at the time of tonight's presidential preference poll can participate, Heen said.

The 337 precinct chairmen will report their results to the party's 51 district chairmen, who in turn will call party headquarters on Ward Avenue, Heen said.

Actual delegates to the convention won't be selected until the state convention at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel from May 26-28.

The state Republican Party last month held its caucuses to determine who will attend its state convention in May. But no preference poll was conducted and the actual apportionment of delegates for the national convention this summer won't be decided until then.