WA: "Democratic caucus-goers eager to start stumping for Obama"

Bryan Kesterson, center, and other Democrats gather Sunday for the 47th Legislative District precinct caucuses at the Kent Phoenix Academy. About 80 people attended.

Sandi Doughton (Seattle Times):

After watching Republicans slug it out for months, Washington's Democrats got their turn Sunday as thousands gathered for presidential caucuses across the state.

With a known candidate, there wasn't much drama. But many of those who showed up said they were eager to begin campaigning in earnest to return President Obama to the White House for a second term.

"We're just getting started," said Marlla Mhoon, of Covington. MORE...

WA: "Attending Your Precinct Caucus - Detailed" (video)

WashDems, video (52:04).

Washington state Democrats: "Here's why you should caucus"

Washington State Democrats:

To show support for President Obama and help kick off the 2012 campaign
To meet and discuss politics with your neighbors
To become a delegate and start down the road to the National Convention in Charlotte
To shape the Party Platform

Howie P.S: For information about the 2012 Caucuses and Conventions, refer to the table and infographic here.

WA: Maria and Jay To Star in Exciting Caucus Video (with photo)

@MariaCantwell & @JayInslee are shooting a video you'll see at #WACaucus on April 15th! http://pic.twitter.com/c6hQgn7W

WA-DEMS; "2012 Caucuses and Conventions" (April 15)

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)
Washington State Democrats:

Find the location of your caucus (on April 15) today!

The 2012 Caucuses and Conventions are your way of becoming a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, choosing a nominee for President, shaping our Party platform, and getting involved with the Party for 2012.

For information about the 2012 Caucuses and Conventions, refer to the table and infographic here.

"Obama: Change Motivating Voters, Not Race"

NPR. with audio (05:40):

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama swept three states in Sunday's caucuses and primaries. Calling in from the campaign trail, Obama says his contest with Sen. Hillary Clinton is not dividing along racial lines, pointing to his across the board victory in Washington.

Barack Obama

"Lively, passionate crowds all over region" (with video and slideshow)

Seattle Times, with video and a slideshow (CLICK HERE):

Precinct Officer Twanda Hill projects her voice to be heard over the crowd gathered for the Democratic caucus in Tukwila.

White Center

All this talk about the surge of new young voters. Yet sitting across the table from each other at a Democratic caucus at White Center Heights Elementary were two elderly women who said they are more fired up about politics than ever before.

Charlotte McFail, 78, was attending her first caucus.

"I am old and crotchety, and I don't like what's happening to my country," said McFail, who was carrying a knobby walking stick that she calls her "club."

Gladys Chiarello, 83, had been to a caucus once before. She said she came out because "I'm tired of hollering at them guys on the TV."

McFail and Chiarello didn't see eye to eye on the candidates.

McFail referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as "my lady." She admires Clinton for gracefully handling "such incredible travails," including her husband's highly publicized infidelities.

Chiarello, an Obama supporter, had just the opposite take: "I really got down on her when she didn't run that husband out the door."

— Ralph Thomas

Lynnwood

Laurie Winder says she's "never done anything Republican in my life." But the anti-war stance of Texas Congressman Ron Paul brought her to Lynnwood's Silver Creek Community Church on Saturday, where she tried passionately to sway others to the Paul camp.

Winder, who teaches at Western Washington's human-services program in Everett, stuck out her tongue at the mention of GOP front-runner John McCain, whom she views as a warmonger.

Winder's small Lynnwood-area precinct was evenly split between three Paul supporters and three McCain supporters. Winder's pleading failed to change the mind of Daniel Kohagen, 18, a student at Everett Community College, who said he respected McCain's military service and anti-abortion credentials. He looked incredulous at the thought of backing Paul, who wants to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

"A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for the terrorists," Kohagen said. "You can quote that."

His mother, Janet Kohagen, beamed. "Daniel wants to run for president."

— Jim Brunner

Tukwila

In Democratic precinct 11-2752 in Tukwila, caucus attendees split 26 for Barack Obama, 13 for Hillary Rodham Clinton and one for Dennis Kucinich. That vote was easy. The hard one was selecting four Obama delegates to the King County Democratic Convention. "I've been involved in politics in South King County for many years," said Timothy Dunn before laying out his credentials to other Obama supporters.

"I have really no political experience," said Levon Dunn, Timothy's son and rival for a delegate spot. "I'm just 17. But I thought I could represent the younger voter."

Levon, a senior at Tyee High School, turns 18 in May, making him eligible to participate in the caucus and become a delegate.

Levon, though, already had been told by his mother, Leslie Wagoner, that he couldn't be a delegate because of the time commitment. "You know what I want for him? I want him to graduate from high school," she said.

"My first vote," Levon sighed, "and it's a 'no.' "

But when the Obama supporters began choosing their delegates, Mom was busy, huddled with other Clinton supporters. That gave Levon his opening to defy her. "This is the way Kennedy started!" said Russell Bradley, who was egging Levon on.

After hearing the pitches, the Obama voters jotted down their four delegate preferences via secret ballot.

Dad made the cut. But son didn't, settling for the consolation prize of being the first alternate.

— Stuart Eskenazi

Seattle

Wedgwood Elementary School in northeast Seattle was clearly Obama country Saturday.

But as 75 people gathered outside the cafeteria, a man wearing jeans, sneakers and a "Hillary!" lapel sticker piped up.

"I respect Obama," he said. "But I worry. I think we need to be careful. He's inspirational and hopeful, but can he do the job? We shouldn't be dazzled by his dazzleness alone. Dazzle doesn't get the job done."

— Haley Edwards

Kent

For Randolph and Sheryl Watkins, the 2008 presidential election is a family affair — even though not every family member is on the same page.

While Randolph and Sheryl are strong supporters of John McCain, their 19-year-old daughter is a fervent Barack Obama backer. Their two sons are both pulling for Mike Huckabee.

The parents, both 52, attended the Republican caucus at the Kentlake High School cafeteria. Randolph became a delegate by default because he and Sheryl were the only two from their precinct to show up.

While talking about his daughter, Randolph pointed to the school gym, where the Democratic caucus was being held, and jokingly sneered, "She's over there!"

Sheryl says she enjoys being able to debate politics in her household. "It's very exciting in our house," Sheryl said. "And it's so fun seeing young people — 19- and 20 year-old kids — getting involved in the political process."

— Yu Nakayama

Seattle

The first round of applause in Democratic precinct 43-2853 wasn't for Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton, but for caucus-goers themselves, after a tally showed 80 people turned out — more than four times the number who came in 2004.

"I've been apathetic in the last two elections, and it hasn't worked out so well for the republic," said Randall Lucas, 28, an associate with a venture-capital firm who decided just within the last two weeks to get active in the Obama campaign.

The precinct's caucus-goers, most of whom were attending their first caucus, listened politely to mini-speeches on behalf of both candidates. But it was clear most had arrived with their minds made up, as the preponderance of Obama lapel stickers indicated.

"I have nothing against the Clintons. I love Hillary Rodham Clinton," said Harley Rees, 59, a theater manager. "But I believe Obama can help us make a better world."

— Jack Broom

Everett

Eight years ago, Dylan Malone became an overnight media star when then-presidential candidate Al Gore made Malone's 6-month-old son, Ian, a poster child for national health-care reform.

That fall, Malone's family sat next to Tipper Gore at the national Democratic Convention as the vice president gave his acceptance speech, again citing Ian's insurance nightmares.

On Saturday, Malone was elected as a Democratic delegate, representing his Northwest Everett neighborhood.

"I've tried to stay active in politics as a way of honoring Ian's memory, as he died [of pneumonia] in 2004," said Malone, 34, who designs Web sites and studies political science at the University of Washington.

In 2004, Malone chaired a national effort to draft Gore into the presidential race. Now he postulates a scenario of a Denver convention with no clear winner between Obama and Clinton.

"If I could get uncommitted delegates sent to the convention, then I still can advocate for Gore," said Malone.

"It's only half as crazy as it sounds," he insisted. "It's been known to happen. It's entirely possible that neither Clinton nor Obama can win. If it gets ugly, then the party may return to its greatest statesman to unify us."

— Diane Brooks

Bellevue

At Stevenson Elementary School, David Kim, 42, an anesthesiologist, couldn't come to terms with Sandy Dagnon, a 66-year-old retiree, on a candidate — but that's about the only thing they couldn't agree on. While Kim held forth on Mike Huckabee and Dagnon stood firm on John McCain, the pair realized they were neighbors at the new Lincoln Square condos in downtown Bellevue.

Dagnon admitted she liked Huckabee's personality. And Kim said he respected McCain's support of the Iraq war. They never switched sides, but they exchanged phone numbers and hugged before leaving.

"They say you should never talk religion and politics," Kim said of their future meetings. "There are times you should talk about it, and this is the year."

— Ashley Bach

Barack Obama

"Politics in Washington State Are Lively Though Puzzling"

NY Times:

SEATTLE — Loggers, bloggers, farmers and philanthropists. Political relevance does not come around often for the distinctive mix of constituencies that keeps things lively here in the other Washington. So this Saturday, when presidential caucuses will be held statewide, people plan to make the most of it.

Turnout is expected to be high, regardless of the usual February forecast for much of the state: rain. About 100,000 people participated in the caucuses in 2004. Twice that many could show up this time, according to some of the bolder predictions, and political experts note particular passion among Democrats over issues including the war in Iraq, health care and the environment.

The mystery, however, is which groups of voters will show up on Saturday in the biggest numbers — and whether they can figure out the rules.

“That’s what we’re working on right now, getting our Hillary supporters out to caucus because our base, women, are not really Democratic party activists who go to caucuses,” said Linda Mitchell, president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington and a backer of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. “They’re usually working, or they are taking care of children.”

“Plus,” Ms. Mitchell said, “we’ve got this other factor with the primary that’s also going on. There’s a lot of people who aren’t engaged in the process who think they’ve already voted for Hillary Clinton.”

Come again? If Ms. Mitchell sounds as if she is shrewdly trying to limit expectations for Mrs. Clinton, she also has a point.

Things here are mighty confusing.

While Democrats and Republicans are holding party caucuses on Saturday, people can also vote in a statewide primary on Feb. 19. Mail-in ballots for the primary, which are widely used, went out to voters last month. Voters can participate in both the caucuses and the primary.

State officials have hoped the February primary, first approved in 1988, would allow more people to participate, but the parties control the awarding of delegates. The Democrats will award 78 of their 97 delegates based on Saturday’s caucuses, with the rest determined by so-called super delegates, not the primary, as has been the practice for decades.

Republicans offer a different twist. About half of their 40 delegates will be awarded at the caucuses, and most of the rest will be from the results of the primary. Oh, and Republican delegates assigned at the caucus can decide to switch to another candidate later.

“I describe it as a fluid process,” said Luke Esser, chairman of the Washington State Republican Party.

With the withdrawal of Mitt Romney from the Republican race on Thursday making Senator John McCain the overwhelming favorite for the nomination, the Democratic caucuses here are drawing the most interest.

Mrs. Clinton, of New York, spoke Thursday at a rally on the Seattle waterfront. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois is set to make two appearances on Friday, one at Key Arena beneath the Space Needle, and at “an alternative energy event as well, less of a big crowd thing, more a policy discussion,” said Representative Adam Smith, who is chairman of the Obama campaign in Washington. Mr. Obama’s wife, Michelle, plans to visit Spokane on Friday.

Mr. Obama has raised nearly twice as much money in the state as Mrs. Clinton, and experts say his campaign’s success at energizing and organizing certain blocs of voters for caucuses in other states could continue here. Mr. Obama is hoping to attract environmentalists, young and first-time voters (including those among the 40,000 students at the University of Washington), as well as well-educated, often wealthier professionals in Seattle and its suburbs and some independents and Republicans.

“We would expect if those trends of education and income and age hold, he probably would have an advantage here,” said Matt Barreto, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington who helps run the nonpartisan Washington Poll.

Galen Main, 23, a graduate student in social work, said she was cynical about politics before she learned about Mr. Obama. Now she is volunteering for his campaign.

“Obama can get more done because he’ll get more people involved,” she said. “That’s the only way we can hold government accountable is to have the masses really care.”

Mrs. Clinton has deep loyalty here among working-class Democrats and women, who vote in larger numbers than men and have helped elect the state’s two female senators and governor.

The Clinton campaign also hopes voters in this technology-centered, trade-dependent state remember how the economy expanded under former President Bill Clinton’s administration.

“I think this is going to be a whole lot more about how good life was when we had a Democratic president and ‘remember how you in Washington State were able to build an economy that’s been able to withstand all the gloom and doom we’re seeing right now nationally,’ ” said Cathy Allen, a longtime Democratic strategist here who is on the steering committee for the Clinton campaign.

Mrs. Clinton has collected endorsements from some of the most prominent Democrats in the state, including Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and the popular King County executive Ron Sims. Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle and more than two dozen state lawmakers are supporting Mr. Obama.

Jay Ubelhart, a ferry boat deck hand and a member of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, said he was interested in Mr. Obama but liked Mrs. Clinton’s health care plans more. He said he also worried that Mr. Obama’s race would prevent voters elsewhere from supporting him in a general election.

“It’s the ‘ideas’ campaign,” Mr. Ubelhart said, referring to the Obama campaign, “but the object is to get a Democratic president into the White House.”

Howie P.S.: In his Seattle P-I column today, Joel Connelly indirectly chides the Clintons, quoting long-time Dem Tom Keefe:

"As much as I respect Hillary Clinton's intellect, I think F. Scott Fitzgerald put it best in 'The Great Gatsby' when he wrote, 'They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.' The same could be said of Bill and Hillary."

And the Seattle Times story today ends with a quote from Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, head of Obama's campaign here:

Clinton and Obama don't fit neatly into the categories of insider and insurgent, or as one who appeals to the heart and one to the head.

And Obama will not concede the electability fight. "The pragmatic choice here is Senator Obama," Smith said. "I've heard Senator Clinton saying she's been pounded on for 16 years, she's been vetted where Barack has not.

"That's true, you've been pounded on and somewhere between 50 and 51 percent of the country — depending on the poll — have decided that under no circumstances would they vote for you."

The Last Word is from The Stranger: "Caucusing Is Easy."

Barack Obama

"Help Decide the President on February 9th" (video)

wademocrats, with video (02:18):

After Super Tuesday the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is close! At the Washington State Caucus on February 9th you will have a huge role in deciding the next president, we checked out some of the Super Tuesday parties to see how people feel about the race.

Howie P.S.: My old pal Dwight knows how to party! As I was posting this, I was robo-called by the Clinton campaign about her visit here Thursday.
Barack Obama

"Washington State Democratic Caucuses: Everything You Need To Know"

Dan Kirkdorffer:

Washington State's Democratic caucuses are only 1 week away now, and this is another good time to remind people about that and how you can find your caucus.

The caucus will start at 1pm on Saturday February 9th.

Word of advice: don't be late, be early! Record turnout is expected, and because of this, it will surely take more time than in the past for everyone to sign in. Expect the possibility of lines or parking problems. Plan ahead!

To find the caucus for your location click this button:

Then enter your last name and zip code. If you know your precinct number you can enter that.

Your caucus vote will be the only one that counts toward the state's delegate allotment. The ballot you got in the mail really only matters if you're a Republican.

If you're unsure about how a caucus works, you can view this caucus training video, or this caucus FAQ video, or this FAQ document.

Some other rules:

- You don't have to be 18 yet to vote at a caucus, as long as you will be by November 4.

- Otherwise you do need to be a registered voter, so get yourself registered!

You can also now obtain precinct maps of all the precincts in King County organized by legislative district.

Use them, if you will, as a further aid to determine your precinct and find your King County caucus location for February 9th.

Finally, this is your chance to have your say about who will be the Democratic nominee. Please do what you can to participate in what will be an historic election for the nation and Democrats and help put this country back on the right path. Get out and vote, and bring your friends and neighbors along as well regardless of who they support.

Every vote matters!

Howie P.S.: My understanding is that you can register to vote at the caucus.