Nelson County vineyard owner Al Weed appears to have clinched the 5th Congressional District's Democratic nomination and may for a second time go up against up incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount.

On Saturday, Democrats finished holding caucuses to elect delegates in 21 localities.

The results came after three counties -- Franklin, Pittsylvania and Henry -- wrapped up the selection process in the afternoon by electing a final round of delegates to attend the party's convention on May 20 in Buckingham County.

Nine delegates committed to Weed, cementing his lead over Bern Ewert, a Charlottesville development consultant, and bringing the total number of delegates committed to him to 104, according to 5th District Democratic Chairman Fred Hudson. A candidate needs to get votes from at least 98 of the 194 delegates to secure a majority and the party's nomination, he said.

Ewert, who served as Roanoke city manager from 1978 to 1985, remained behind Weed with 54 delegates, despite having collected 14 commitments during Saturday's caucuses. Only 36 delegates remain uncommitted.

While it appears that Weed has the "obvious advantage," Hudson said, the count is by no means a done deal. "There is no rule preventing [delegates] from changing their minds," he said.

Weed, who lost to Goode in 2004, said he was pleased with Saturday's results.

"We had a much better day than we needed," Weed said. He had held a substantial lead over Ewert coming into the weekend.

Despite Saturday's count, Ewert's campaign manager, Marlin Adams, was not willing to concede defeat. In fact, he said he thought the day went well, citing commitment of 11 delegates in Pittsylvania County. He was also quick to point out that the delegates aren't bound to their selections and that the uncommitted delegates could still swing in Ewert's favor.

That would put Ewert within "striking distance" to win the nomination, Marlin said.

If one candidate is not able to win a majority at the convention, then the nomination goes to a second ballot, Hudson said.