SAN DIEGO - Democratic presidential candidates will pursue delegates and political dollars at a state party convention this weekend that amounts to an unofficial kickoff of the 2008 race in California.

Hillary Clinton addresses the The California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego

Barack Obama addresses the The California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego

The convention began last night with a dinner and remarks by former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, who is also seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the first of seven candidates to address an expected crowd of 2,200 party members. The two-day event gives campaigns a chance to court activists, insiders and elected officials whose support can lead to donations and, ultimately, votes.

The lineup of leading candidates confirms California's status as a pivotal player in the 2008 race. The nation's largest state moved its presidential primary to Feb. 5 from June to increase its clout in the nominating derby.

On stage, President Bush is likely to be the main target, as he was in the first Democratic debate Thursday in South Carolina. Off stage, candidates will work to behind the scenes to make connections with power brokers as well as rank-and-file members.

"There's going to be a real effort to secure endorsements that will translate into constituencies and votes," said Chris Lehane, a veteran Democratic strategist. Because of the state's newfound importance, "people who may not have mattered in the past are going to be on these campaigns' speed dials."

Democrats scheduled to follow Clinton to the podium include Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel.

On Wednesday, Clinton announced that Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat, would join her campaign as a national co-chair. The powerful statehouse dealmaker has close ties to organized labor and can also help Clinton strengthen her ties to the Hispanic community, a critical voter group.

Along with expected appeals to party leaders, the convention will also function as a beauty contest for campaigns looking to recruit activists and volunteers to stuff envelopes, knock on doors and organize other get-out-the-vote efforts.

"This is a good thing - it's part of the broadening of the presidency," said Sam Popkin, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. "It forces candidates and their war rooms to connect with the whole party, instead of just having a clever message."

But for most Californians, the weekend's NFL draft could prove more riveting than the political pageant in "America's Finest City."

"For the general public, this is a drive-by moment," said Bill Carrick, a Democratic consultant who has worked on presidential campaigns for Bill Clinton, Dick Gephardt and Ted Kennedy.

One group that won't be overlooked are California's wealthy donors. The state has long served as an ATM for candidates. Among his events, Obama has a $500-a-ticket fundraiser at a Hollywood club Saturday night.