Siouxlanders have record turnout
By Dave Dreeszen, Bret Hayworth and Lynn Zerschling, Journal staff writers | Posted: Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Howard Dean supporter Barb Redmond, right, tries to convince Dennis Kucinich supporters Jeff Booth and Susan Booth to throw their support to Dean during a Democratic caucus at Hoover Middle School in Sioux City. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
Northwest Iowa Democrats gathered with their friends and neighbors in schools, churches, town halls, fire stations and homes Monday to voice their favorites in the race for the White House.
Despite frigid temperatures, record numbers of activists turned out for the precinct caucuses, the nation's first test of the presidential nominating season.
At Precinct 17 in Sioux City, lines formed down the hallway and out the door as 140 caucus-goers signed in at Bryant Elementary School. Among the voters were several northside residents who changed their political affiliation in order to participate.
"We certainly didn't expect this many Republicans -- er "new Democrats," precinct Chairman David West told the crowd in the school auditorium to hearty laughter.
Across town, 86 Morningside Democrats showed up at Precinct No. 26 -- a turnout three times larger than the last caucus four years ago -- causing organizers to run out of a few forms.
Precinct chairwoman Jan Olson chalked up the better-than-expected attendance to "quality and disgruntlement" -- four good national candidates and disenchantment with President Bush.
"They just really underestimated this precinct, didn't they?" Olson told the crowd who gathered at East Middle School.
The crowds were even larger than normal at the caucus site in Orange City, where Democrats have long been in the minority. With only 10 percent of the 16,876 voters registering as Democrats, Sioux County is Iowa's most Republican county and one of most GOP-dominated in the the nation. But more than 100 Democrats showed up at the Orange City site, the largest crowd permanent chair Carl Vandermeulen could remember since he began going to caucuses in 1966.
Vandermeulen used the occasion to poke fun at Republicans eating a chili dinner prior to their caucus at Dordt College in nearby Sioux Center, where GOP strategist Ralph Reed was a featured speaker.
"Imagine a whole room of Republicans full of beans,'' Vandermeulen told the crowd at Iowa State Bank. "Later, the Democrats will be passing resolutions and the Republicans will be passing (pause).''
After everyone signed in at the various sites, the battle for delegates to the county conventions began, with caucus-goers dividing into groups with other supporters of their favorite candidates.
Some groups were unable to meet the 15 percent threshold required by the state Democratic Party, forcing them to realign.
On first count at the East Middle School precinct, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- Monday's statewide winner -- led the way with 29 people. Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, with eight people, was outnumbered by the 11 uncommitted members. That started the politicking to get the 13 members needed to be viable to earn a county convention delegate, and a supporter of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards supporter waved the Gephardt backers over with his arm.
"They won't even sweet talk us," a Gephardt backer noted.
Howard Dean supporter Paula Barker wore an AFCSME union T-shirt and pleaded for the Gephardites to come to the camp of the former Vermont governor. But a Kerry woman had a different tack -- she brought over a plate of cookies.
"I can't beat that," Barker said.
By 7:20 p.m., the Gephardt camp had evaporated, in large part to the Kerry and Edwards groups. The final 26th precinct count was 36 (five delegates) for Kerry, 27 for Edwards (four delegates), who leapfrogged past Dean from the first count, and Dean 23 (four delegates also).
Gephardt, who won the Iowa caucuses in 1988 and was widely considered the front-runner for this year's contest, dropped out of the presidential race late Monday after a disappointing fourth-place finish statewide. At the Bryant precinct, where the 15 percent threshold required at least 21 people, the former House Minority Leader also failed to pick up any delegates.
When the selection began there, about eight people remained undecided, sitting in the middle of the room. That's when the debate and arm twisting began, with representatives from the other candidates trying to convince them to swing their way.
Almost immediately, Christy Hubbard and Doug Bryson, backers of Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, realized their group had to disband. To loud cheers, they joined the Edwards' group, following a deal arranged earlier Monday between the Edwards and Kucinich campaigns.
In the meantime, the 11 Gephardt supporters attempted to convince some undecided voters to join their circle, but could not. Within 10 minutes, they split up -- with most joining the Edwards circle and a few drifting to Kerry's.
Richard Delfs said he moved to Edwards, saying, "He's young. He's new. He's a fresh face."
Gephardt fan Anita Froehlig switched to Kerry, saying, "I couldn't take Gephardt to the dance so I decided to take Kerry."
Connie Smith, a Sioux City teacher who has been a long-time Edwards' campaigner, worked the crowd -- even venturing into the Dean and Kerry stronghold, attempting to convince a few to come her way.
Carl and Anne James, retired teachers, headed the Dean camp. Wearing yellow T-shirts, they kept any Dean backers from defecting to the other candidates, with Carl James saying Dean was the only candidate who opposed the war in Iraq.
Smith persuaded some uncommitted voters to declare for Edwards, including Chris Mills. He normally is a registered independent, but switched in order to participate in the caucus selection system.
Kerry won the evening at the Bryant caucus, taking half of the large precinct's 12 delegates. Edwards, who finished a surprising second statewide, captured four delegates, while Dean garnered two.
Donning Kerry buttons at the Bryant site were long-time Republican Party activists Lynn and Marilyn Richardson and Maria Rundquist.
"We voted for Bush last time, but not again," Lynn Richardson said, with his wife adding, "I particularly don't like his stand on the 'No Child Left Behind' act."
Rundquist said she plans to campaign vigorously for Kerry's nomination and has no plans to switch back to the GOP.
At the Orange City caucus, after some horse-trading among campaigns, Edwards received six delegates, Dean and Kerry each had five delegates, and one uncommitted delegate was elected.
Orange City caucus-goer Mike Yoder said he preferred Edwards as a pragmatic choice.
"The Democrats have to win the Southern states. I think Edwards is the man who can do it," he said.
A number of Northwestern College students observed at the Orange City site. They were among many young people who participated in Northwest Iowa, some for the first time.
At Woodbury County's Precinct 43 at the Anthon Community Center, Tim Chwirka, a Maple Valley Anthon-Oto High School senior attended his first caucus, citing his interest in the process and a devotion to high school government instructor Keith Robinson.
"Mr. Robinson encourages all of us to participate in our government,'' said Chwirka, who supported Howard Dean. "I did not want to disappoint him.''
Journal staff writer Tim Gallagher and Journal correspondent Duane Beeson contributed to this story.
Despite frigid temperatures, record numbers of activists turned out for the precinct caucuses, the nation's first test of the presidential nominating season.
At Precinct 17 in Sioux City, lines formed down the hallway and out the door as 140 caucus-goers signed in at Bryant Elementary School. Among the voters were several northside residents who changed their political affiliation in order to participate.
"We certainly didn't expect this many Republicans -- er "new Democrats," precinct Chairman David West told the crowd in the school auditorium to hearty laughter.
Across town, 86 Morningside Democrats showed up at Precinct No. 26 -- a turnout three times larger than the last caucus four years ago -- causing organizers to run out of a few forms.
Precinct chairwoman Jan Olson chalked up the better-than-expected attendance to "quality and disgruntlement" -- four good national candidates and disenchantment with President Bush.
"They just really underestimated this precinct, didn't they?" Olson told the crowd who gathered at East Middle School.
The crowds were even larger than normal at the caucus site in Orange City, where Democrats have long been in the minority. With only 10 percent of the 16,876 voters registering as Democrats, Sioux County is Iowa's most Republican county and one of most GOP-dominated in the the nation. But more than 100 Democrats showed up at the Orange City site, the largest crowd permanent chair Carl Vandermeulen could remember since he began going to caucuses in 1966.
Vandermeulen used the occasion to poke fun at Republicans eating a chili dinner prior to their caucus at Dordt College in nearby Sioux Center, where GOP strategist Ralph Reed was a featured speaker.
"Imagine a whole room of Republicans full of beans,'' Vandermeulen told the crowd at Iowa State Bank. "Later, the Democrats will be passing resolutions and the Republicans will be passing (pause).''
After everyone signed in at the various sites, the battle for delegates to the county conventions began, with caucus-goers dividing into groups with other supporters of their favorite candidates.
Some groups were unable to meet the 15 percent threshold required by the state Democratic Party, forcing them to realign.
On first count at the East Middle School precinct, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- Monday's statewide winner -- led the way with 29 people. Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, with eight people, was outnumbered by the 11 uncommitted members. That started the politicking to get the 13 members needed to be viable to earn a county convention delegate, and a supporter of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards supporter waved the Gephardt backers over with his arm.
"They won't even sweet talk us," a Gephardt backer noted.
Howard Dean supporter Paula Barker wore an AFCSME union T-shirt and pleaded for the Gephardites to come to the camp of the former Vermont governor. But a Kerry woman had a different tack -- she brought over a plate of cookies.
"I can't beat that," Barker said.
By 7:20 p.m., the Gephardt camp had evaporated, in large part to the Kerry and Edwards groups. The final 26th precinct count was 36 (five delegates) for Kerry, 27 for Edwards (four delegates), who leapfrogged past Dean from the first count, and Dean 23 (four delegates also).
Gephardt, who won the Iowa caucuses in 1988 and was widely considered the front-runner for this year's contest, dropped out of the presidential race late Monday after a disappointing fourth-place finish statewide. At the Bryant precinct, where the 15 percent threshold required at least 21 people, the former House Minority Leader also failed to pick up any delegates.
When the selection began there, about eight people remained undecided, sitting in the middle of the room. That's when the debate and arm twisting began, with representatives from the other candidates trying to convince them to swing their way.
Almost immediately, Christy Hubbard and Doug Bryson, backers of Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, realized their group had to disband. To loud cheers, they joined the Edwards' group, following a deal arranged earlier Monday between the Edwards and Kucinich campaigns.
In the meantime, the 11 Gephardt supporters attempted to convince some undecided voters to join their circle, but could not. Within 10 minutes, they split up -- with most joining the Edwards circle and a few drifting to Kerry's.
Richard Delfs said he moved to Edwards, saying, "He's young. He's new. He's a fresh face."
Gephardt fan Anita Froehlig switched to Kerry, saying, "I couldn't take Gephardt to the dance so I decided to take Kerry."
Connie Smith, a Sioux City teacher who has been a long-time Edwards' campaigner, worked the crowd -- even venturing into the Dean and Kerry stronghold, attempting to convince a few to come her way.
Carl and Anne James, retired teachers, headed the Dean camp. Wearing yellow T-shirts, they kept any Dean backers from defecting to the other candidates, with Carl James saying Dean was the only candidate who opposed the war in Iraq.
Smith persuaded some uncommitted voters to declare for Edwards, including Chris Mills. He normally is a registered independent, but switched in order to participate in the caucus selection system.
Kerry won the evening at the Bryant caucus, taking half of the large precinct's 12 delegates. Edwards, who finished a surprising second statewide, captured four delegates, while Dean garnered two.
Donning Kerry buttons at the Bryant site were long-time Republican Party activists Lynn and Marilyn Richardson and Maria Rundquist.
"We voted for Bush last time, but not again," Lynn Richardson said, with his wife adding, "I particularly don't like his stand on the 'No Child Left Behind' act."
Rundquist said she plans to campaign vigorously for Kerry's nomination and has no plans to switch back to the GOP.
At the Orange City caucus, after some horse-trading among campaigns, Edwards received six delegates, Dean and Kerry each had five delegates, and one uncommitted delegate was elected.
Orange City caucus-goer Mike Yoder said he preferred Edwards as a pragmatic choice.
"The Democrats have to win the Southern states. I think Edwards is the man who can do it," he said.
A number of Northwestern College students observed at the Orange City site. They were among many young people who participated in Northwest Iowa, some for the first time.
At Woodbury County's Precinct 43 at the Anthon Community Center, Tim Chwirka, a Maple Valley Anthon-Oto High School senior attended his first caucus, citing his interest in the process and a devotion to high school government instructor Keith Robinson.
"Mr. Robinson encourages all of us to participate in our government,'' said Chwirka, who supported Howard Dean. "I did not want to disappoint him.''
Journal staff writer Tim Gallagher and Journal correspondent Duane Beeson contributed to this story.
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