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February 9, 2008 4:10 PM

It's early, but Obama looking strong

Democrats are e-mailing me results from their caucuses. Every one I've seen so far shows Obama winning easily. It's only a small number and only from a few places so far. That includes precincts in Seattle, all points in Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Port Townsend. I'll be particularly interested in seeing Pierce County results where Clinton is expected to do better.

The 34th District Democrats went big for Obama. That's Mayor Greg Nickels' district, and he made an appearance.

Put Lower Queen Anne and Belltown in Obama's column, too.

Here's one Tacoma report, from a precinct in the 27th District. Matt Kite writes:

Our precinct went for Obama, 11-6 (in delegates). The caucus next to us (a smaller group, with fewer delegates at stake) also went for Obama, although it sounded closer.

Judy West writes from Carnation:

We caucused with the downtown Carnation group. (Precinct 45-0290) 25 folks signed in; final tally 23 obama, 2 clinton. 5 delegates to the district convention for Obama; none for Clinton.
My husband and I have caucused previously..once we held a teeny caucus in our living room with about 6 people (1984, I think).

This was an amazing day. The Carnation Elem gym was full to overflowing and most precincts had more attendees than ours.

From Olympia:

I know that results are poring in; here is what I saw in olympia. At my caucus site we had probably 400 people and between what I saw in my precinct and what I heard I would suggest that Obama was pulling in 8-9 out of every ten. Clinton supporters were few and far between. Mark Bowden

From Orcas Island, Russell Lee Post writes:

On an island twice the size of Manhattan with a population of around 4,500, the caucus has ended. Hundreds crowded the school buildings and broke into separate groups. In precinct 4, a pattern that was followed in the other 3, Obama received 7 delegates, Clinton 1 and Kucinich 1. The actual votes were Obama 124 and Clinton 24.

From San Juan:

I just got back from attending the caucus here and Obama has it by at least 70% of the votes of all the precincts. Drake Diteman

A stronger showing for Clinton in Mount Vernon:

I'm in Mount Vernon, our group was almost evenly split between clinton and obama (11/13/2undecided). We ended up with 2 delegates each for clinton and obama.

Lynwood:

We had 4 delegates for Obama, 2 for Clinton. There was some back and forth discussion, but no one persuaded anyone to change sides. Even the one undecided person, was very dead set on being undecided. In fact the only thing that was roundly agreed to by the majority was the suggestion to send a resolution up the ladder to the next caucus recommending that we replace the caucus with a primary.
Also interestingly, we had a Republican, or at least someone who usually voted Republican, show up. He said he wanted to be a delegate for Obama, because he wanted to keep Hillary out of the White House. He even said that he’d vote for McCain if Hillary was nominated, although he didn’t say who he’d vote for if Obama was. He was very open about his motives, and stepped aside when someone said she was uncomfortable with that situation. Still, I think it speaks to just how much the Republicans despise Hillary.

~Ryan in Lynnwood

Jeffrey Wagner writes from Woodinville:

The Sammamish Grange Hall was over capacity, packed. I would guess out of the 9 precincts represented there, 75% of the people were supporting Obama, to 25% for Clinton. My precinct (WOD 45-0926) which included 24 people total voted 4 delegates for Obama, to 1 for Clinton.

From Eastern Washington, Jerry Hand in Walla Walla says:

We just got back from the Democratic Party caucus. Oboma running about four to one over Hillary. Walla Walla turn out was more than double any previous caucus.

In Yakima, it's Obama:

Turnout was huge. In 2004, we had 24 precincts meeting at our location location. Today we had six and the the room was packed. Many more people than in 2004.
Clinton had no organization and only one sign. It was home-made. Obama stuff was everywhere, and they were organized down to the precinct level.

Results for my precinct: 41 for Obama, 19 for Clinton. The other precincts had similar numbers.

From Vancouver, reporter Hal Bernton says:

At the Martin Luther King Elementary in Vancouver, there weren't enough chairs to seat the hundreds of Democrats who turned out from six different precincts. Caucus organizers said it was a record turnout, with one precinct that drew 19 people in 2004 reporting 48 people on Saturday.
At this caucus site, Obama emerged victorious, gaining roughly three delegates for every one picked up by Clinton.

A Seattle reader sends this:

Our precinct in Wallingford was 7 Obama and 1 Clinton.
We checked with six other precincts in the building (Hamilton Middle School) and it ran about 80% for Obama and 20% for Clinton. Most of them were 5 or 6 Obama for 1 Clinton.

Drove over and checked at Bagley Elementary near Green Lake with the same numbers. In each precinct about 5 for Obama for 1 to Clinton.

Listening to the debates the key issue was elect ability. Many people were repeating talking points from the Republican party against Hillary.

Pat O'Hearn writes:

Here in Anacortes we had a very good turnout at our caucus location (Anacortes Sr. Center) Our precinct went 43-18 for Obama. The other precincts were mostly that lopsided as well.

A strong showing for Clinton from a Kirkland precinct, according to Bill Hays:

Our precinct, Sharon in the Kingsgate area of Kirkland, went for Clinton. The final tally was 16 votes for Clinton, 10 for Obama and two undecided. And no one would waver, even the undecideds. I had to wonder what would move someone to attend a caucus and be undecided, even at the end. Anyway, our precinct now sends two delegates for Clinton and one for Obama up to the next level.
A preponderance of the those caucusing in our precinct were women of a certain age, underlining that here, as elsewhere, this group is Hillary's core constituency. I happen to be a supporter of Obama and lobbyed hard for my candidate, but everyone was pretty entrenched and it wasn't worth an argument.

Elsewhere in the Juanita High cafeteria, where I think there were 12 precincts caucusing, I know there were majority Obama supporters, but I couldn't tell how many this was true for -- the room echoed and it was difficult to hear the people in our own precinct, much less get how others were going

Matt Fisher says from Bellingham:

Precint 208 in Bellingham: had about 128 people present. 13 delegates for Obama, 3 for Clinton.

Maggie Fimia sent out some unofficial totals from Shoreline. From eight precincts Obama 265, Clinton, 111, undecided 13, other 1.

From Eastern Washington, Rebecca Schoen writes:

If you're interested in little Millwood, which is very close to Spokane, My precinct went 4 delegates for Obama and 0 for Clinton.

And from Spokane County, just outside the Spokane city limits, - 2 Obama, 1 Clinton.
-

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Posted by Mary Ann

4:21 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 1328 at Ballard Oddfellows Hall: About 2/3 of attendees under 40, half that under 30. Obama: 7 delegates, Hillary 1.

Posted by Jacob

4:27 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 2202 at Broadview Thompson. Final count was about 50-Obama 22 Clinton but the the delegates broke 3 to 2. Very diverse turnout.

Posted by Hatsy

4:30 PM, Feb 09, 2008

You may already have this, but Precinct 1269 (Greenlake Neighborhood), roughly 105 attendees, 5 delegates for Obama, 1 for Clinton.

Posted by Casey Burns

4:34 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Striebel's in Kingston went 8 Obama, 1 Clinton (delegates to the County Convention). Turnout was about 6 or 7 times compared with 2004. Overall north Kitsap is going for Obama - as similar numbers were evident in adjoining precincts.

Posted by Fremont

4:35 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 1354 (Seattle - Fremont)
Obama 6 delegates
Clinton 1 delegate

Posted by Stephanie

4:35 PM, Feb 09, 2008

In Spokane: Precinct 6147 (South Hill)
(if I recall the numbers correctly)

Obama 53
Hillary 17

Posted by eric w.

4:36 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 0655 in Shoreline, 120+ people (in one elementary school class room!!), 7 delegates for Obama and 3 for Hillary. It was completely overcrowded, somewhat disorganized, and very spirited.

Posted by Mason

4:38 PM, Feb 09, 2008

I caucused at Highland Middle School in Bellevue. The organizers didn't announce results for the caucus as a whole but I did an informal canvas. I estimate there were...maybe 25-30 precincts in the building which was packed. I canvased more than 1/2 of the precincts and Obama seemed to be leading about 3:1 in delegates overal and perhaps 5:1 in "votes" among caucus goers.

Posted by lorax

4:39 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Where is the evidence that the 34th went big for Obama? From their website it looks like one specific caucus site went big for Obama. There isn't a big 34th Dems convention that Nickels showed up at--you get how this works, right?

Posted by Michael

4:41 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precint 1325 at Ballard Oddfellows Hall went heavily Obama as well.

Posted by Skeeb

4:42 PM, Feb 09, 2008

One "Top of Queen Anne" precinct was 6-1 Obama, with white women representing 100% of the small Clinton group.

Posted by industrialbiker

4:43 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle (precinct 1602) went for Obama

Obama 54 – Clinton 8 – undecided 4.

Posted by Bob Ferguson

4:43 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Big support for Obama at Bagley Elementary in North Seattle. 46-2236 had 5 delegates for Obama and 1 for Clinton. That was similar to what I heard from a few other precincts at the same location. We had 51 folks for Obama in 2236, and 10 for Clinton. wide range of ages in our group, fun experience, very crowded site!

Posted by Mezz

4:44 PM, Feb 09, 2008

1850- Beacon Hill Obama 6-1.

A precinct next to us went Obama 6-0

Posted by Tom

4:55 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Countryside Precinct in 5th Legislative Dist. Issaquah

Obama: 4 delegates
Clinton: 2 delegates

Posted by Mark Best

4:56 PM, Feb 09, 2008

This was just for my table Table 3097 in district 30
Edwards 1
Clinton 16
Obama 38 not 28
This translated for Clinton 2 delegates Obama 6

My first caucus and the junior high was overflowing.
This was my first caucus. Semi organized pandemonium.

Posted by Sarah in Ballard

4:56 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 1318 at the Ballard Oddfellows. Huge turnout, with 5 delegates awarded to Obama and 2 to Clinton.

Posted by Arlene

4:57 PM, Feb 09, 2008

hello David Postman,
KENT PRECINCT is in 33rd Distric
Obama wins 2 to 1
What a crowd of at least 300-400
in Kent Elementary today ..and we all
were civil and decided quickly whom we wanted
as our candidates and our precinct team and delegates all went smoothly today:
Washingto will be OBAMA territory, you need not
look any further south to Pierce County...It will ring true there as well...
OBAMA IN 2008

Thanks
Arlene Tognetti
and the gang in Precinct 33....KING COUNTY
Yes WE Can
and
Yes WE Will

Posted by Obamafan

5:03 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Bainbridge Island appears to be going for Obama bigtime... my precinct went 7 - 2, Obama and Hillary, and a show of hands in the 1,000 combination of all precincts was overwhelmingly in his favor.

Posted by L Fowler

5:05 PM, Feb 09, 2008

At the 41st district caucus, my precinct went 75 for Obama and 25% for Clinton. The delegate count was 4 for Obama and 2 for Clinton.

Posted by NE Fairview

5:05 PM, Feb 09, 2008

NE Fairview Precinct (Kittitas County) 2 delegates to Obama, 1 to Clinton.

Posted by Roger T

5:06 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Our Caucus in Bainbridge Island was overwhelmingly Obama. My Precinct was 7 delegates for Obama and 1 for Hillary. I heard people clamoring for Jay Inslee to switch his endorsement because it was so strong for Obama.

Posted by David

5:07 PM, Feb 09, 2008

I'm angry about being tricked into believing my Feb 19 ballot counted. What a waste of money! Who can I effectively complain to about the current causus system?

Posted by D K

5:08 PM, Feb 09, 2008

43 LD in Wallingford/Greenlake: 9 precincts met at Keystone Congregational Church. On average, Obama won the delegates 4:1, per precinct.

Posted by Krist Novoselic

5:08 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Wahkiakum County Results Obama 17 Clinton 10

Posted by Ryan

5:11 PM, Feb 09, 2008

46-2217 (Bitterlake/Broadview) Obama: 7 delegates Clinton: 6 delegates, lots of women of a certain age. Rest of 46th seemed more pro-obama (and youthful)

Posted by Dustin

5:12 PM, Feb 09, 2008

In the 27th LD in Tacoma, our precinct (27-3714), with 22 delegates, awarded 16 to Obama, 5 to Hillary, and 1 undecided.

Posted by Matt

5:13 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Bellingham Precinct 240, just south of Western Washington University, 7 to 1 for Obama. There seems to be a very large amount of participation from college students in the area, it was really amazing. People are really excited, and the youth vote is definitely out in force.

Posted by Rachael

5:15 PM, Feb 09, 2008

The 27th Precincts caucus gathering at Jason Lee Middle School was overflowing. Great diversity in age, gender and ethnicity.

Precinct 27-315 (Tacoma, WA Pierce County)
172 people present.
108 for Obama
54 for Clinton
10 Undecided

Ultimately 12 delegates for Obama, 6 for Clinton, none for Undecided.

Posted by eh

5:20 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Seattle....one of the Eastlake neighborhood precincts.

Raw vote: Obama 68 - Clinton 16

Delegates: Obama 6 - Clinton 1

Posted by Leo henton

5:29 PM, Feb 09, 2008

dem 37-1558 rainier beach, southeast Seattle 98118. Seven obama delegates Clinton one delegate. Zero uncomitted. Zero other. 75 citizens participated. Many knowledgable thoughtful speakers. Citizens very aware of circumstances and what is at stake.

Posted by Ben

5:42 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Seattle, precinct 1838 —

7 Obama, 1 Clinton

Posted by Eric LeVine

5:59 PM, Feb 09, 2008

My precinct 36-1748 in Queen Anne was 85% for Obama with 4 of 5 of our district caucus attendees going to Obama. The other precincts at McClure Middle School seemed to be int he 80% range.

Posted by lollylollylolly

8:52 PM, Feb 09, 2008

To reader "David" who posted at 5:07 PM, Feb 09
Some primary ballots also have other measures (shcools, etc.), so those ballots do matter. But here's why our presidential primary doesn't.

Q: Why do we have both a primary and caucuses?

A: The parties used to select delegates solely through precinct caucuses and state conventions. In 1989, the Legislature adopted a citizen initiative calling for presidential primaries. But the parties have never fully accepted the primary as a way to pick delegates.
The Republican Party is using caucuses and state conventions to select about half of its pledged delegates to the party's national convention. The rest will be allocated according to the results of the primary. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is ignoring the primary and selecting all of its delegates through caucuses and state conventions.

Posted by Beacon Hill

11:37 PM, Feb 09, 2008

Precinct 1596 (Beacon Hill) is sending 6 delegates for Obama and 1 for Clinton.

Posted by KatR

12:07 AM, Feb 10, 2008

To Ryan in Lynnwood -

Our caucus also sent a resolution that the Dems conduct a hybrid/caucus primary like the Republicans. Our PCO argued against it (weakly) but we overwhelmingly supported it anyway (24-11). I wonder if the party will pay any attention.

Posted by NH

8:13 PM, Feb 10, 2008

None of this is correct since Ron Paul won by a landslide where it counts - delegates.

That's official