Casper Dems celebrate the moment at county caucus
ALLISON RUPP Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Sunday, March 9, 2008 12:00 am
It's now safe for Wyoming Democrats to come out of the woodwork.
That's the response Diane Johnson gave to someone at the Natrona County caucus who said "I didn't think there were this many Democrats in the state."
It was also the message that coursed through the caucus that took place Saturday at the Holiday Inn On the River.
Almost 1,000 people cast votes, many of whom waited hours to do so. The line to get in stretched outside the hotel and around the corner.
"I am here for my first caucus," said Johnson, a Hillary Clinton supporter. Johnson brought her 10-year-old daughter, Maya, for the experience. "This is an important year. To believe the choice we have."
Natrona County Democrats chose Sen. Barack Obama - barely.
According to tallies, 468 people pledged their support for Obama and 461 people pledged to Sen. Hillary Clinton. Thirteen people were uncommitted.
The words "encouraging," "historical" and "unprecedented" were the ones most commonly used to describe the event.
"This is unbelievable," said Terry Wingerter, the lone Democrat on the Natrona County Commission. "I have been here (in Casper) since I was 3 and been involved with politics over 20 years and I have never seen anything like it."
Wingerter said his Republican friends joke that the Wyoming Democratic caucus could be "held in a phone booth."
"They should be down here today," Wingerter said.
People began lining up at 6:30 a.m. By the time volunteer Shelden Sumey showed up at 7:15 a.m., "it was a zoo," he said.
Registration was supposed to be finished around 9:30 a.m., but the last person wasn't registered until 10:50 a.m.
R.C. Johnson, vice-chair of Natrona County Democrats, said party leaders were expecting only 500 to 600 of the about 7,700 registered Democrats in the county for the caucus. They got almost double.
Wyoming, a sparsely populated, mostly Republican state, has largely been ignored by Democratic presidential candidates, said Bruce Richardson, an English professor at Casper College who said he was supporting Obama.
But Casper Democrats got a treat this week.
Both Clinton and Obama visited the city Friday.
Many Democrats in attendance, including John Faunce, who opened the ceremonies Saturday, appreciated the fact they got to see the candidates in the flesh.
"But you know why?" Faunce said. "It's close. We can make a difference."
Babies wore onesies that said "Obama '08" and children tagged along with their parents holding Clinton signs.
Bridget Veauthier felt so strongly about showing her support for Obama that she braved the crowds with her three daughters, Samantha, 4, Eleanor, 3 and Julia, 2 months.
Richardson said he had been to Democratic events before but had never seen anything like this.
In 1992 , when former President Bill Clinton ran against Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin in the Democratic caucus, Richardson remembered only about 60 or 70 people at the event in Casper.
"If you brought five or six people with you, you changed the votes," Richardson said. "This is pretty exciting."
Not all people left the Holiday Inn rejuvenated with Democratic spirit. A few people who thought they were registered to vote were turned away from voting because they weren't on the county clerk's list.
One Clinton supporter left in tears.
Former Gov. Mike Sullivan spoke at the caucus in support of Clinton, but he also spoke on behalf of all Wyoming Democrats.
"Since Tuesday the political gods have shined down on Wyoming Democrats," Sullivan said. "And we responded. You have walked through history the past couple of days."
Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.
- "I have always been a Clinton supporter," said Jessica Bath, a 27-year-old student. "She's got a huge mess on her hands to clean up, but I think she's strong enough to do it."
- "I didn't make my mind up until this morning," said Terry Wingerter, a Natrona County commissioner. "I was impressed that Obama has not taken any money from the lobbyists. That's what made up my mind."
- "We are here supporting Obama," said Bridget Veauthier, mother of three girls. "Just think, this is such an exciting time to cast your vote and have your say."
- "I am participating in democracy," said Bruce Richardson, a 60-year-old professor. "Wyoming has always been real engaged in local things but now we can play a real significant role in the national stage."]]>