To Caucus To Caucus

I went to the Democratic Caucus in my town yesterday.

It was my first ever caucus experience. I was excited to go. I'm so glad I went.

Everyone's been asking me what it was like. No one I know has ever been to a caucus before, but so many people are going this year all over the country. It's a jump-on-the-bandwagon event with steamroller momentum. In my state we've had primaries for the past few elections, so no caucuses in which to participate. I learned yesterday that if we'd had a primary this year, it wouldn't have been until June (true? not sure), so I'm really glad the state made the switch this year. THIS is the time to stand up and be counted, and who knows what will happen between now and June!

I took notes while I was there, so I could give a full account.

Caucuses for our two towns (the seaside village, and the inland town) were to be held at the same time and location. The event was scheduled to begin at 1pm at the High School Gymnasium. I opted to arrive early as I needed to graduate myself from from wishy-washy-indecisive Independent to full fledged Democrat. I arrived at 12:40. The parking lot was about 70% full already. There was a small line filing into the school through a single door, at which stood two people: one giving instructions on where to go to check in or to change party registration, and the other handing out Obama stickers and flyers. I listened to my instructions and eagerly accepted my Obama sticker, immediately placing it on the shoulder of my Wonder Woman sweatshirt. Notice, I didn't say there was someone at the door handing out Clinton stickers. That's because there wasn't. In fact, there didn't seem to be any official "Hillary" people about at all. And, what's more, I noticed that everyone filing in along with me also accepted an Obama sticker upon entry.
Once inside the building I took a quick look around for all the friends and acquaintances I just knew would be there. You always assume that the people you enjoy and have things in common with (your friends) are of the same political slant as yourself. Naturally, I fully expected to see lots of friends caucusing proudly along with me. I was early though, and no one I knew was there yet. So, onward with the business of BEING COUNTED.
I inched my way through the crowd to a table where a man and two women sat, with stacks of papers, changing folks from one party to another. I was surprised how many people stood in that line - likely 20 or so at that particular time. The line moved fast. I became an official Democrat in less than 5 minutes. Didn't even have to show my license, prick my finger for a spot of blood, or walk away with black inkspots on my fingertips. Just gave my name, signed a form, took my copy and shuffled off to the next table to "check in" as a resident voter.
Within 15 minutes, I was free to be counted. I made my way toward the gymnasium, too eager to stop at the table of complimentary refreshments (cookies and brownies and other goodies hand-baked, I imagine, by the town Democratic Committee or perhaps the local Obama contingent, and a huge bowl of Tootsie Pops). Nor did I pause at the tables inhabited by aspiring local politicians with their stickers and signs. My charge was straight to the gym. I found it very frustrating to be momentarily interrupted by a local Probate Judge looking to acquire signatures for his entry onto the ballot for an upcoming local election. I don't know you. I don't have time for you right now. You're not why I'm here. I'm here to caucus for Obama, man. Let me by. I signed in haste.
I entered the gym.

The gym floor had been completely covered with gray tarps, taped down to protect the hardwoods. We're proud of our gym. On top of the tarps were rows and rows of folding chairs set with a wide aisle down the middle, at the end of which was a small, black platform with a table, three chairs and a podium. To the right, the bleachers had been pulled all the way out. To the left, they were left flat to the wall. Between the gym doors and the chairs there was a small crowd of people, mingling, chatting excitedly. Some were handing out fliers, others offering clipboards and pens needed to fill out the "Form 1" that each of us received at check-in. There were a few people walking briskly about, muttering into walkie talkies, organizing, taking care of last minute details, etc. Another quick sweep of the crowd told me that still, no one I knew had arrived. Slightly surprised, I began to scan the room for signs of what to do next. Am I supposed to pick a side? Can I sit anywhere?
I headed slowly but confidently up the center aisle. The bleachers were still empty, and the chairs were about 25% occupied. I thought that was pretty good for 12:55. Pretty good for any time really, considering I'd heard rumor that the last caucus in our town brought out a whopping 40 or so bodies. I ran into a friend (finally) - a local State Rep, busily greeting caucusers and friends. He explained that I could sit anywhere and that it would be a while before things got started because of the huge turn-out.
I found a seat on the aisle, strategically behind a man with a clipboard and pen who graciously let me borrow them to fill out my Form 1. I learned that he's a lawyer, moved to town just over a month ago. We chatted about the crowd, analyzing the demographics: do you think there are more women here than men? Is it me, or is this crowd older than you expected? Where are the young parents? There are no teens or early 20's here. Did you notice that there really aren't any official Clinton people here? There are only a few Clinton posters on the walls. We commented on the buzz in the room, the general excitement in the air. It was good people watching.
The chairs were filling steadily, the bleachers too. The crowd outside the gym was thick, the lines longer and longer. It was already past 1:30 and still, we sat while people continued to file into the building.
Our analytical chatter continued: Are you also noticing that there are more Hillary people here than before? Isn't that a good sign though...that the Obama people were so eager to get here that they were here early? And there are a few more younger people here too. Still, I didn't see anyone else I knew - at least not really anyone I knew well enough to get out of my seat and chat with.
The lawyer and I continued to observe and process it all. He hadn't been to a caucus in years, and the last one he went to, further north in the state, had an outstanding attendance: 4.
The Hillary people were really beginning to show themselves, holding signs up in the air, putting on their stickers. Still, it was fairly obvious, even though we were all mixed together, the Obama crowd, was bigger.
1:45 brought an announcement from the black platform at the front of the gym.

"We hope to get started shortly, perhaps 15 minutes or so. Please bear with us. There are still a lot of people registering - it's just taking a long time because the turnout is so great."

At that there was an applause. Look at us, we all came. All came to be counted. So many of us. How cool is this?
I wished I had my camera. People were hugging each other in the aisle in greeting after months of winter hibernation. Official people were still popping about on the gray tarp pointing and directing and chattering on their walkies.
I wished I had my kids too. An historic time, an important process. Should've brought them. But, they'd be so bored. I got up to get a cookie. There were none left.
Eventually, they were ready to begin. Directing the standing people at the back to the few sporadic open seats, and the small spaces left in the bleachers, they got everyone in and announced,

"Welcome Democrats."

Great applause and lots of chatter.
It was 2:05. They explained the process. After all the people running for local, district and state offices had a chance to speak, and after people got to speak on behalf of their presidential candidates, and after we elected our local delegates and Democratic Committe members and chairs, we'd send the residents of our sister town out to the cafeteria to caucus and we'd get to our count - in about 45 minutes. Oh, you're kidding me. Who knew it would take this long?
When it came time to speak for Presidential candidates it was decided to go in alphabetical order. Clinton first. Does anyone want to speak for Clinton? Long, quiet pause. Is there no one that wants to speak up for Senator Clinton? Murmuring, giggling. Three people stand up and walk to the front. They have five minutes total to speak. One speaks about Hillary's experience. One says she's waited all her life for the opportunity to vote for a woman for President. You don't vote for someone just because she has boobs and monthlies. The third speaks about Hillary's humanity.
Done.
Edwards? "If you are planning to caucus for Edwards, which you can do because his campaign is officially only "suspended", you can come up and speak on his behalf now." No one.
"Does anyone plan on caucusing for any other candidates? No? Okay."

Huh?

"Oh, folks, I'm sorry, I guess there is one person who plans to caucus for Mike Gravel and he'd like to speak. Yes sir, come on up."
Boy did heads turn then. Who? What other candidate? I've never even heard of him.
We ALL turned to the back of the gym to see who this person was that was caucusing for the unknown. And whoa. Tall, skinny, longish black hair, tall black boots, black tight jeans, chains, piercings, red stripes in the hair, pail skin - and YOUNG. Walking down the aisle with complete confidence, every single eye following every single footstep, with hushed murmer. Then, sudden loud applause. What an incredibly unlikely...good for him.
"This is my first caucus (applause), this will be my first time voting (applause). I'm 18 years old, and I look a lot different than most of you..." Too cool. Speak up buddy. This is what it's all about. He went on very intelligently, very well spoken. He talked about choosing a candidate based on whether or not that person could be your friend, not what their allegances are, not how much money they have, not even what party they belong to. If you feel they could be your friend, you can probably trust them. Then, he clearly declared that for him, that candidate is Mike Gravel.
Well, okay. Good. Loud applause.
10 people spoke on behalf of Obama. They covered the gamut of reasoning. They were all so excited, some looked like they might choke up.
I was impressed, the speeches were very short, the voting was miraculously fast. Everyone wanted to get to the count. Eager beavers every one. The residents of our sister town were asked to head out of the gym to the cafeteria to hold their own caucus.
By 2:50 we were ready to count.
"Please hand your Form 1 to the inside of the aisle." The forms were collected.
After a bit more waiting, it was announced that our town had 554 people at caucus, and 56 absentee ballots. It would take 17.8 people to earn one delegate for a candidate.

It was time. All Edwards people stand here. All undecideds stand here. Clinton people on the right side of the gym, Obama people on the left.

The Clinton crowd fit easily between the chairs and the extended bleachers. The Obama people crammed between the gym wall and the rows of chairs, spilling out at either end and standing unnecessarily close together. Maybe we wanted to appear as a smaller group, so as not to make the others feel badly. Maybe we were just communing. We were asked to fill the chairs, and if standing, to create straight rows. I sat beside a nice woman and her husband. We chatted about the local schools (her kids are grown but went through the school district years ago), how long we've lived here, where we're from...there was plenty of time to get to know. Apparently, the bowl of Tootsie Pops was very popular. I noticed, as I waited for the count, that most people around me were loudly sucking on their lollipops as they chortled and chatted and chittered.
We were counted twice by a man and a woman. She counted, pointing directly at each of us, and then at the end of each row, announcing the count to the man following her. Twice they did this.

The first count: 172 people and 16 absentee ballots for Clinton; 18 people for Edwards; 1 person for Gravel, 355 people and 40 absentee ballots for Obama. That meant 11 delegates for Clinton, one for Edwards and 23 for Obama.

The Obama crowd was very noisy at this point: clapping, cheering, chattering.
Now, all Edwards, undecided and Gravel people can change their caucus if they want, by moving to another group. They all did.
We were counted again. Only this time, the Clinton people first, walked past two counters in a single file line. Once counted, you were allowed to leave. Then, the Obama people. So, I actually left before hearing the final count. I believe it was 24 delegates for Obama, 11 for Clinton. It was almost 4pm.

My overall reaction to this experience? Great. It takes a lot of time out of your day, but it's so worth it. It feels so much more meaningful to be counted this way, than to stand behind the curtain. This is a community event. It's people coming together to say it all matters. I saw couples separate to be counted for opposing candidates, smiling at each other across the gym. I saw an elderly person switch sides for the second count, seemingly convinced by something that he had heard just that day, just that moment that swayed him. It was all good. The momentum is undeniable, the spirit is in the air.

My only disappointment - I saw very few people of my own age group at the caucus. Busy with kids at home? Hockey games? Republicans? I don't know, but I wish I'd seem more of them there to stand and be counted.
Vote how you want. Stand on one side or the other. Just stand up. That's what matters.
Let's keep moving forward.