By MARGIE DOYLE
Editor
Democratic and Republican party faithful caucused on Saturday, Feb. 9.
The Democrats of San Juan County caucused with a record number of attendees, reported Jamie Stephens, the Democrats’ Jurisdiction Caucus Coordinator. “At the end of the day Back Obama swept the County,” said Stephens. The total attendance county-wide was over 1,700.
Obama won 113 delegates, Hillary Clinton 23. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who has dropped out of the race, received four delegates.
Breakdown by Island:
Orcas
Hillary Clinton 7 delegates
Barack Obama 35 delegates
Dennis Kusinitch 3 delegates
Lopez
Hillary Clinton 4 delegates
Barack Obama 19 delegates
Dennis Kucinich 1 delegate
Shaw
Hillary Clinton 1 delegate
Barack Obama 2 delegates
Waldron
Barack Obama 2 delegates
At the Republican Party caucus meetings, locations on all three islands were filled “to the rafters” with attendees, reported Republican Party Chair Cindy Carter. “Many new faces showed up and were welcomed to participate. Results of the caucuses showed the diversity of the group and were reflected in the state results as well,” Carter said.
In San Juan County, McCain won at each caucus location to come away with 25 delegates.
The caucus results for the county were:
Mike Huckabee 10 delegates
John McCain 25 delegates
Ron Paul 10 delegates
Mitt Romney 15 delegates
There are seven uncommitted delegates who will go with the committed delegates to the Republican County Convention on March 29 in Friday Harbor this year.
Republican Party caucus attendees also received a questionaire and, while results are still being tabulated, Carter surmised that the most important issues to those showing up at the caucuses were:
1. Controlling government spending
2. Securing national borders
3. Winning the War on Terror
The state Republican Party is assigning 51 percent of their delgates from the primary and 49 percent of their delegates from the caucus.
From here, precinct caucus delegates go on to regional conventions, where delegates to the national conventions will be elected in proportions that reflect Saturday’s statewide results.
While both parties claimed their caucuses had record participation – this is the first election since 1952 in which a vice president or president has not sought the presidency – some volunteers said they thought the caucus system should be replaced with a primary.
One Democratic Party caucus volunteer said the caucus system is confusing. Because of state law, Washington state also has a presidential primary (Feb. 19), but the state Democratic Party is assigning delegates only from the caucuses, not the primary. But many voters do not know that and didn’t participate in the caucus because they’ve voted, or they tossed their ballots because they are participating in the caucus – which means they didn’t vote on the school levy that is also on the Feb. 19 ballot.
Among Democrats statewide, Illinois Sen. Obama received 68 percent of the vote, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 31 percent. Among Republicans statewide, Arizona Sen. John McCain received 26 percent of the vote, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received 24 percent, Texas Congressman Ron Paul received 21.
Learn about the candidates: Want to know more about the candidates and what they would do as president? Visit these Web sites:
Democrats
— Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: http://www.hillaryclinton.com
— Former Sen. Mike Gravel: http://www.gravel2008.us
— Sen. Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com
Republicans
— Former Gov. Mike Huckabee: http://www.mikehuckabee.com
— Sen. John McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com
— Rep. Ron Paul: http://www.ronpaul2008.com
San Juan Journal Editor Richard Walker contributed to this article.
