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Caucus turnout amazes party leaders in area |
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
There was a clear indication last week that precinct caucus attendance would grow, but as the results from Feb. 5 have been analyzed, even party officials say they are amazed by the turnout.
The District 52 Republican precinct caucus for Forest Lake was at Forest Lake High School and party leaders said it was four times greater than in past years. The same was true for all of District 52, said Party Chair John Meader of Scandia.
On the DFL side, the turnout was eight times normal, said Kim Rapheal of Scandia, who chaired the District 52 A session for all 12 precincts at Century Junior High School. For all of District 52, nearly 3000 caucus goers turned out, shattering old records.
The trend in District 52 mirrored the statewide turnout.
According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, some 250,000 people attended DFL caucus sessions and 62,000 Republicans turned out on Feb. 4. Both were all-time highs.
Local results
Meader reported last week that close to 1400 party members were on hand at the District 52 precinct gathering.
Overall in District 52, Gov. Mitt Romney was the winner in the non-binding presidential poll with 706 votes followed by Sen. John McCain with 309, Rep. Ron Paul with 185 and Mike Huckabee with 180. Romney also won the Feb. 5 statewide straw poll.
In District 52A, which covers the Forest Lake area (Scandia, Linwood, Columbus), Romney won the straw ballot with 320 followed by McCain with 134, Huckabee with 122 and Paul with 80.
In the five Forest Lake precincts, Romney won by a 2 to 1 margin over McCain, collecting 132 ballots to 61 for McCain. Paul received 21 and Huckabee 42.
On the 52B side, Romney received 386, McCain 175, Paul 105 and Huckabee 58.
Meader said the caucus saw many first-time attendees. In 2006, the District 52 caucus had 355 in attendance.
On the DFL side, the turnout was even more dramatic on Feb. 5.
At the 52A gathering in Forest Lake, 958 district residents registered. That’s eight times the 123 participants who took part in the 2006 precinct caucus, Rapheal reported.
Another 2005 participants turned out at the 52B caucus at Mahtomedi High School. That compares to the 344 attendees from 2006, Rapheal said.
In 52A, caucus attendees used the presidential preference ballot to strongly support Sen. Barack Obama. He led the way with 534 votes to Hillary Clinton’s 396. Former candidate John Edwards had 15 and there were nine uncommitted ballots cast.
In 52B, Obama again led the way with 1327 ballots to 661 for Clinton.
In the five Forest Lake precincts, Obama topped Clinton, 238 to 182. Edwards received eight votes in Forest Lake.
The reaction
“We couldn’t be happier with the turnout,” Rapheal said.
The crush on Feb. 5 caused long lines at the main check in point at the school. Attendees began arriving at 6 p.m., 30 minutes prior to the start of balloting. By shortly after 7 p.m. caucus workers were forced to use paper ballots as supplies ran short.
“We are very pleased,” she said. “You never think it is going to be that high. You get the big push in the beginning.”
Rapheal also said a solid turnout by young people, some of college age, helped the attendance.
There was also excitement on the Republican side.
Meader said the move of the caucus from March to February and the national link to Super Tuesday was the key in building interest.
“I had no idea the impact would be this great,” he said. In Scandia, he said, the caucus was six times higher than 2006 with about 80 percent of the attendees new participants. “Obviously we were underprepared with ballots. It was good to see all the energy and people coming out.”
Meader said the strong showing by Romney reflected his strong push in the state, but was a bit of surprise. “I was surprised by the Romney turnout,” Meader said.
Delegates selected at local precinct caucuses will move to the district/county conventions and the state conventions.
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