Just got back from Caucus Day Nebraska '08! **PICS**

[ReverendDeuce]

What an exciting experience! This was a first time for me. I attempted to become a delegate but after I saw about 30 other people vying, I just gave up. No big deal!

I've got friends in other parts of town, here's how it went down at Steamfitter's Local 464:

I arrived early. The main room was packed wall to wall. They opened up three overflow rooms! The turnout was amazing! One of my friends who came along registered as a democrat. During the re-alignment procedures, it was great seeing all the undecideds flock to the Obama side. I was surprised, as the individual that was elected as the leader was not as strong as I would have liked. Nevertheless, in our room alone the final vote was 220 to 102 in favor of Obama, if I recall. Six delegates for Barack, three for Hillary.

My friend in South Omaha said their group had a total of about 450 people, with a 2/3rd split for Obama.

My girlfriend caucused in midtown and she reports that both Bob Kerry and Omaha's mayor, Mike Fahey, were on-hand to caucus as well. Kerry, as you know, has endorsed Hillary. Fahey, on the other hand, has endorsed Obama. The final vote was 900 for Obama, 200 for Hillary.

Now for some pics and some commentary...

First, the smattering of Hillary Supporters... A rauckus crowd, despite their docile appearance. Mostly women aged 50+. I mingled amongst them for a while and they were very, very upset with "those Obama people"...



Next, the Obama crowd. A much wider mix of people! Outnumbering Hillary supporters 2:1...



Everything went very smoothly for our state's first-ever caucus! Kudos to everybody who volunteered and participated!

[KittyWampus]

1. thanks for your report. I'm sure Hillary will have some strongholds in NE

[woolldog]

2. That looks like fun.

Seems like a great way to meet your neighbors and meet new people.

Do you already know most of the people who you caucus with?

[Alhena]

3. Was the room filled with white-collar elites of society?

To hear some tell it, that's who Obama's supporters are.

The only thing is- my impression was that such folks weren't a majority in the Cornhusker State.

Thanks very much for your report- our very own exit poll!

[XemaSab]

10. I'm sure that guy in the Chicago Cubs hat has a $5 latte in his mug

:P

[ReverendDeuce]

15. It was almost the opposite...

The Hillary people seemed to, as I said, be white, 50+, and female. The few men that were there were married and honestly looked like they were there because they had to be. Save for one guy, who was going bonkers with the Hillary sign.

The Obama people were very mixed. Lots of high-school kids with their jackets, lots of smiling, friendly senior citizens, and tons of middle class types of a nice variety of ethnicities. Some were dressed well, some were obviously blue collar.

During the last alignment, two of the undecided, a couple, split -- the husband came to Obama and the wife went to Hillary. It was quite cute (especially the crowd's reaction).

[jesus_of_suburbia]

62. SEXIST CRAP

"The few men that were there were married and honestly looked like they were there because they had to be"



What a bunch of crap spewing from your mouth.


Give me a break.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Why were the Hillary people upset with "those Obama people"?

[woolldog]

9. because

they feel she is owed the presidency.

[alphafemale]

13. nice post, you sexist pr-ck

:rofl:

Oh and welcome to DU.

[ReverendDeuce]

18. I think he's actually right... they were chanting that -- no joke...

The Hillary folks were chanting something along the lines of "taking back our house" or something. One person behind me in the Obama group chuckled about it... "their house, huh?"

I think most of those people sincerely did feel that it is owed to Hillary.

[Pirate Smile]

19. What part of that post was sexist? Is everything anti-Clinton sexist

or were you joking and I missed it? :)

[alphafemale]

24. I was joking.

Did you not see :rofl: this guy?

[Pirate Smile]

25. Ok, sorry.. I've been a bit stunned by all the people seriously yelling

sexism about everything and some seem to really mean it so I'm never sure anymore. :D :hi:

[woolldog]

34. tks for the welcome!

:hi:

[Alhena]

14. Rumble! Greasers v. Soc'es !!

:)

[alphafemale]

5. "....they were very, very upset with "those Obama people"...

:rofl:

Yeah. They do tend to seem a tad miffed don't they?

[ReverendDeuce]

21. Well just look at them!

So stern looking! They sat there and every now and then were chanting something new. Every time they started, the Obama volunteer got our side to say something back and we drowned them out so bad...

But I give them credit for sticking to their candidate! Not a single Hillary supporter (or Obama supporter) switched sides.

[livetohike]

6. Thank you for the first hand report and pics

:hi:

I've only lived in one caucus state (MN)in my life. It was a really cool experience I thought.

We have to wait for April 22 here.

[TeamJordan23]

7. Thanks for the upset. Caucuses do seem fun. nm

[kstewart33]

8. Great report. It's so good to hear about the turnout. Thanks! nt

[grantcart]

11. K and r

[alteredstate]

12. Thanks for the update

and the great pics!

[Cowpunk]

16. Nebraska is Obama's

Every report I've read has Obama way ahead. In LD 12, where I was volunteering, Os outnumbered Cs over 2 to 1. 7 delegates for Obama, 3 for Hillary. Pretty big turnout but the thing went smoothly. We made the Iowans I observed last month look like amateurs.

[polichick]

17. Very interesting - thanks...

Looks like such fun to me!

[Adelante]

20. Everything went very smoothly

Glad to hear it. Thanks for the report. :)

[WillyT]

22. Thank You For The Report !!! - K & R !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. we all know that Obama can only win in a red state with an OPEN primary & very FEW participants

[ReverendDeuce]

26. A tiny bit bitter, aren't you?

Wow! What an insult to the entire state...

[Pirate Smile]

29. Well, Louisianna is a closed Primary so we shall see later tonight if what you wrote is true

[ElsewheresDaughter]

32. another "CAUCUS" Primary

[Pirate Smile]

38. In what way is Louisiana a "caucus" Primary? It looks like a straight up Primary.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

52. caucus means no ballots...it is done by head counts of the lucky few who don't have to work or ...

who can not get there for a many reasons .....it is a very limited view of what will really happen in NOV in the GE

[Pirate Smile]

53. I know what a caucus is - I been to two of them. Why did you call the Louisiana Primary a "caucus

Primary"? It isn't.

There are opinions and facts. Confusing the two leads to problems.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

55. because it is listed as a "Caucus"....link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election#Presidential_Primary_systems_state-by-state

[Pirate Smile]

57. Wiki is wrong - it is a Primary and listed as such pretty much everywhere.

http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/primaries/democraticprimaries/index.html

[Pirate Smile]

33. Whoops - you are wrong. Connecticut was a closed Primary.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

35. well that is due to the LIEbermans effect

[Pirate Smile]

37. Whoops, here is another one - Delaware - a closed Democratic Primary which Obama won.

I guess Obama can win those closed blue state primaries.

Don't let facts stop you now.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

40. okay Obama won 1 red state "closed primary"....kudos to him for Deleware...IMPRESSIVE

[Pirate Smile]

51. What was the reason Connecticut didn't count again? Because Lieberman is from there?

:shrug:

Why doesn't Georgia count? I don't think it had only a few people voting.

[skipos]

42. Damn those red states like MN, CT, DE, IL, CO, IA!!!

We want a candidate who can only win the Dukakis states! 200 electoral votes, here we come!
:woohoo:

[VolcanoJen]

63. How completely insulting.

Just like the Clinton camp, you apparently feel strongly that only big state, blue state Democrats matter.

I'm in the most conservative part of the state of Ohio, and I can't wait to vote for Obama.

[Kittycat]

27. Great report!

Looks like a fun time. I'd love to see one in person.

[Barack_America]

28. Wow. Inside an actual caucus!

What a treat! Thanks very much!

I can't help but notice from your shots that the Obama side looks a little closer to where you were standing. ;)

[ReverendDeuce]

31. Actually, I moved to the other side... Obama's side was vastly more crowded...

There were a LOT more people, so it just looks that way.

[Barack_America]

48. Did anyone caucus for Edwards?

Just wondering.

[Cowpunk]

61. We Couldn't Caucus for Edwards in Douglas County

County party rules prohibited caucusing for "suspended" candidates. I didn't know this beforehand, so I brought a few Edwards signs and stickers, and left them in the uncommitted area. All the stickers got used up, which I thought was cool. I made a big show of moving to Obama with my Edwards sign in hand. Hopefully it encouraged a few other Edwardians to go for Obama.

[VolcanoJen]

64. Very cool!!!

:thumbsup:

[usregimechange]

30. ReverendDeuce rules!

[ReverendDeuce]

36. I dunno, I am pretty divisive... I think I have a ton of people ignoring me...

I first-hand drove several people off of DU in 2004 for some criticism I levied at a formerly prominent member of the site. I also have a sense of humor that tends of offend the easily offended. I have a tendency for dropping some very charged remarks around here that get under peoples' skin. I think I am one of the most frequent members whose name can be found in the various "ignore" lists. :D

But thanks for the kudos! I appreciate it!

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. That looks like what we had here in Kansas on Tuesday

Thanks for the pics! Isn't this exciting?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

41. Wierd RE: your Hillary pic. Since when are political party support signs allowed in polling places?.

Here NOTHIONG not even buttons are permitted within 500 feet of a polling place.

what's that smell?

[skipos]

43. I like your Hillary pic.

They photoshopped about 25 years off of her. Kudos whoever did the work!

[Renew Deal]

45. Caucus is different than a primary.

That's the answer.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

47. thats crap and you know it

[Renew Deal]

50. That's right and I know it.

It's not my fault that you don't know enough about this.

[alphafemale]

66. There are signs clearly visable in the pics, actually. nt

[Renew Deal]

44. I think I see horns on the Obama supporters.

:evilgrin:

[ellisonz]

56. Is that a cooler of Kool-Aid in the back?

:9

[cooolandrew]

46. Thank you for your story .Great news. =)

[awaysidetraveler]

49. Hey that's great!

Glad to see the support for Obama is out in Nebraska!

[jefferson_dem]

54. Thanks for the field report.

I love it when we put a human face on democracy!

[RoadRage]

58. Sounds like you had a way better experience then we did out in West Omaha...

1200+ people.. but it was total chaos. We were at Buffett middle school - No overflow rooms available.. and we could bearly breath in there.

But, It was definitely an Obama heavy crowd.. i think he's got Nebraska for sure!

[Hailtothechimp]

59. Sit for Hillary, or Stand for Obama. A simple choice for me.

Look at the pics again if you don't believe me.

[ReverendDeuce]

60. Well, it's not entirely fair...

When it started, everybody was sitting -- they said that it would be more correct to stand, more "fun" if you will. The chairs were originally stacked by the Obama side, so we all started stacking the chairs back up because we ran out of room. The Hillary folks just sat on their hands.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

65. "The few men that were there were married and honestly looked like they were there because they had

"The few men that were there were married and honestly looked like they were there because they had to be."




IS THIS NOT OUTRAGEOUS SEXISM? I am a male... and I can see when Hillary is being dissed because she is a female.. it's OUTRAGEOUS.

This OP is saying that any male who is for Hillary is a wimp and can't POSSIBLY think that a male could think that a FEMALE is competant to be President.


HEAVEN FORBID THAT A MALE COULD VOTE FOR A WOMAN ON HIS OWN.

[workinclasszero]

67. Yeah those Obama supporters look like a bunch of..

..latte sipping elitists eh?:rofl:

Thanks for the report and pics!:)

GOBAMA!!