I am still parsing all of the numbers that emerged from the caucuses here in Idaho and reflecting on all of the energy I saw and experienced.
Senator Obama won here 79% to 17% and posted his widest margin of victory against Senator Clinton yet. Barack won 43 of 44 caucus sites, save one county where Clinton turned out 10 rabid supporters to Obama's seven.
Even my Republican leaning grandmother turned out to caucus for Obama in Twin Falls county. She is a strict southern baptist who voted for the Bushes four times and was the first one in line to caucus for Obama at a caucus of 800 people.
My caucus site in Bannock County had just over five hundred people participate four years ago. On Tuesday it was the fourth largest in the state with 1444 counted ballots, (+1 for a poor old guy who got mad that he couldn't vote Mitt Romney after he waited in line for an hour), and an extra three hundred or so that were spectators... (CONTINUED)
I am still parsing all of the numbers that emerged from the caucuses here in Idaho and reflecting on all of the energy I saw and experienced.
Senator Obama won here 79% to 17% and posted his widest margin of victory against Senator Clinton yet. Barack won 43 of 44 caucus sites, save one county where Clinton turned out 10 rabid supporters to Obama's seven.
Even my Republican leaning grandmother turned out to caucus for Obama in Twin Falls county. She is a strict southern baptist who voted for the Bushes four times and was the first one in line to caucus for Obama at a caucus of 800 people.
My caucus site in Bannock County had just over five hundred people participate four years ago. On Tuesday it was the fourth largest in the state with 1444 counted ballots, (+1 for a poor old guy who got mad that he couldn't vote Mitt Romney after he waited in line for an hour), and an extra three hundred or so that were spectators.
People at my caucus were screaming, hot and packed into a room that was way over capacity. Anyone who could remember far back enough drew comparison to the energy they experienced when Bobby Kennedy ran for President.
The most amazing caucus site was of course in Boise where the largest caucus site in the nation was held at Qwest Arena. There were 5215 ballots casted at Qwest Arena and many reports of people being turned away because the arena was packed, or turned off because people didn't want to stand in line for over an hour.
There aren't a lot of us die hard democrats and leftists in the state of Idaho. The Republic Party has us beat by a wide margin in this state. But after seeing some of the momentum the Democratic Party has here, everyone must be wondering that if we have the right candidates lined up we could steal a house and senate seat. Larry LaRocco has an honest shot to win Larry Craig's open seat. Progressive Jim Hansen has the toughest challenge in CD-2 against the former dentist, Mike Simpson. And Larry Grant has an honest shot of beating the very moderate Bill Sali.
Idaho Republicans just like my grandmother are looking to cross lines; we've had Bush at the helm of a sinking ship, Senator Craig being a dirty, nasty, naughty boy and a congressman in the first district that no one can stand within the state party but he still managed to win two years ago. All we have to do is remind voters of the current state of affairs; the recession, the never ending war, our broken health care system, Larry Craig's antics, torturing and illegal wire-tapping.
Combine this with Dean's 50 state strategy, more DNC money going to the state party here, as well the sensation of Senator Obama visiting Boise last week, and Markos Moulitsas coming out here to get the grassroots excited at the Frank Church Banquet and we should win some seats that we haven't held in a long time.