'Iowa started it all'
Sioux County Democrats -- yes, there are some -- celebrate Obama's big night
By Michele Linck, Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008
ORANGE CITY -- An hour before Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama was to step onto the stage at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on Thursday night, 30 or so Sioux County Democrats attending an Obama watch party at the home of Doug and Grete Carlson here were already congratulating themselves.
After all, many of them had caucused for Obama last winter.
“Iowa started it all,” said Grete Carlson, an early supporter of Obama who helped bring Michelle Obama to Orange City in December. She said she initially had been deciding between Obama and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, so she was ecstatic to get both with Biden’s nomination for vice president.
Harold Heie, who was chairman of the Democratic caucus in Sioux County, and Keisha Diephuis, a Northwestern College student working for Obama, urged everyone there to sign up to canvass other Democrats and independents and to register to vote early.
“This is the most action the Democratic Party has had in Sioux County in 42 years,” said Jan Vandermeulen, treasurer of the party in Sioux county. “We have an exciting candidate. People are brave enough to be vocal about the candidate.”
The party guests, an eclectic group, had plenty of their own reasons to support Obama.
“For the sake of the rest of the word, vote Obama,” said Jackie Smallbones, a native South African and a professor of religion at the college.
Matt Cranson, a transplant from Boston, said although he initially caucused for John Edwards, he quickly switched to Obama, whom he likes for his “progressive political agenda” on the economy, environment and education.
For Doug Carlson, a professor of history, the Obama change can’t happen fast enough. A novelty clock on his refrigerator ticks down to “Bush’s Last Day.” It read 144 on Thursday night.
“I think the people of the world want to believe in America,” he said. “They want hope.”
350 parties
If these Sioux County Democrats were lonely, you didn’t sense it at the Obama watch party. But who could blame them? After all, they make up only 9.2 percent of the 20,242 registered voters in Sioux County, compared with 74 percent for the Republicans.
What they lack in numbers they’re making up for in enthusiasm this election cycle. There was even a second Obama watch party in Orange City Thursday night and 348 others in homes across Iowa, all arranged by the Obama campaign. Parties were held in 18 Northwest Iowa communities, including two each in Spencer and Sibley, 10 in Sioux City and one was even planned in South Sioux City.
The party excitement at the Carlsons’ quieted a little after 9 p.m. when Obama took the microphone. The guests sat before two televisions, one in the living room, one in the family room, riveted to their candidate’s message.
After all, many of them had caucused for Obama last winter.
“Iowa started it all,” said Grete Carlson, an early supporter of Obama who helped bring Michelle Obama to Orange City in December. She said she initially had been deciding between Obama and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, so she was ecstatic to get both with Biden’s nomination for vice president.
Harold Heie, who was chairman of the Democratic caucus in Sioux County, and Keisha Diephuis, a Northwestern College student working for Obama, urged everyone there to sign up to canvass other Democrats and independents and to register to vote early.
“This is the most action the Democratic Party has had in Sioux County in 42 years,” said Jan Vandermeulen, treasurer of the party in Sioux county. “We have an exciting candidate. People are brave enough to be vocal about the candidate.”
The party guests, an eclectic group, had plenty of their own reasons to support Obama.
“For the sake of the rest of the word, vote Obama,” said Jackie Smallbones, a native South African and a professor of religion at the college.
Matt Cranson, a transplant from Boston, said although he initially caucused for John Edwards, he quickly switched to Obama, whom he likes for his “progressive political agenda” on the economy, environment and education.
For Doug Carlson, a professor of history, the Obama change can’t happen fast enough. A novelty clock on his refrigerator ticks down to “Bush’s Last Day.” It read 144 on Thursday night.
“I think the people of the world want to believe in America,” he said. “They want hope.”
350 parties
If these Sioux County Democrats were lonely, you didn’t sense it at the Obama watch party. But who could blame them? After all, they make up only 9.2 percent of the 20,242 registered voters in Sioux County, compared with 74 percent for the Republicans.
What they lack in numbers they’re making up for in enthusiasm this election cycle. There was even a second Obama watch party in Orange City Thursday night and 348 others in homes across Iowa, all arranged by the Obama campaign. Parties were held in 18 Northwest Iowa communities, including two each in Spencer and Sibley, 10 in Sioux City and one was even planned in South Sioux City.
The party excitement at the Carlsons’ quieted a little after 9 p.m. when Obama took the microphone. The guests sat before two televisions, one in the living room, one in the family room, riveted to their candidate’s message.
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Thrash wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:59 PM:
Dick wrote on Aug 29, 2008 1:46 PM:
And . . . wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:18 AM: