Iowa caucus turnout shatters record

[groovedaddy]

This is probably the big news of the Iowa Caucus, particularly for Dems -

The Iowa Democratic Party said that with 96 percent of the precincts reporting, they were seeing record turnout, with 227,000 caucus attendees. In 2004, their turnout was about 125,000 caucus goers.

The Iowa Republican Party is also projecting record turnout, with 120,000 people taking part in the Republican caucuses. About 87,000 people took part in the 2000 Republican caucuses.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/03/democratic-caucus-turnout-shatters-record/

[CoffeeCat]

1. That really is the top story...

I was an Obama precinct captain, and we were completely unprepared for
the deluge of people.

In 04, our precinct had a record turnout of 120 people. This year there
were more than 240.

You must check in before you go into your caucus room. If you're registered
to vote, you simply sign in. If you're not registered, or if you're not registered
as a Dem, you must fill out the appropriate forms.

There was a long line down the hall of new people registering to vote and people
registering as Democrats. My husband volunteered to help out with these registrations
because there were at least 75 people in these lines.

I'm still coming down from this experience. It was political heaven. Democracy in action.

"We The People" came out in droves, and let their voices be heard. "We The People" are not
taking it on the chin anymore. "We The People" are looking to the Democratic party to help
the country out of this mess.

One of the most exhilarating experiences of my life...

[ChazII]

3. An uplifting story

thank you for this. It brightend my day/

[Lisa]

11. that's such great news!

I've been telling everyone I know, up here in Canada, that Americans are sick and tired of the mess, and what's more they are doing something about it.

[harun]

2. It is a huge point because it means people want change NOW

It has me really excited about 2008.

[CoffeeCat]

4. Yes, and those people...

...are looking to the DEMOCRATS to give them that change.

I had to greet all of the Obama supporters and cross them off of our list when
they walked in the door. The idea was that I would call all of the people on
the list, who didn't show--and remind them to caucus.

I tossed the list 45 minutes before the caucus started because at least 60 percent
of the people who came through the door were not on the list. They were not even
in our system, because they had never voted or caucused before and most were not
even registered to vote.

Half of the people who showed up in Iowa last night were new to the system, or
registered Republicans/Independents who re-registered as Democrats.

America is waking up. I saw it with my own eyes and I have never had so much
hope for our future, for our children and for this country.

[harun]

7. I have heard the same thing from many others, this is great (n/t)

[groovedaddy]

5. Thanks for sharing your experiences of the Caucus!

I can feel the tide turning!!!

[Demeter]

6. How Many Democrats Were GOP in Disguise?

That's what worries me.

[groovedaddy]

8. That's a good question. It's been done before - i.e. Cynthia McKinney

Seems like there should be some stats on voter registration/changes of party affiliation.

[harun]

9. A lot of them R's switching to D's but they had a competitive

primary of their own going. If they were excited about the R candidates they could have went to their first primary of their own party. I think they are not happy with the R candidates at all, they are towing the B*sh line, and about 80% of the country doesn't like that. They want change and see it coming from the Dem's and want to be a part of that. I don't think they were simply R mischief makers looking to spoil things.

[justgamma]

13. None in our precinct.

You have to remember that the pukes had record turnouts too.

[ShannonOHara]

10. The Big News is demoralising for Democracy

Iowa may have won a PR result by getting the World's Press and TV to spend their money in your State.

But Iowan citizens should feel ashamed: You have 1,900,000 registered Voters - 334,000 or 227,000 (according to the previous post) decided to contribute to the Democratic process.

5.69% of the electorate - 94% of Voters felt that the exercise was a waste of time.

Why does your State Governor, Chet Culver, do nothing to galvanise people to exercise the right which so much blood, sweat, tears and tragedy over the centuries has given them?

Kind Regards

Shannon O'Hara

[justgamma]

12. Welcome!

I think people are afraid of the caucus process. There were so many new people that signed up and they were amazed that it was so fast and easy.
The whole thing takes only about 45 min. to an hour. So many were under the impression that it takes hours.

I'm hoping that they spread the word and we'll see more and more people coming out from now on.

[progressforward]

14. Good for us. n/t