David Friedli

By the Dashboard Lights

February 14, 2008

Making it Count

I gave up previous plans and made my way to the Tekamah City Auditorium last Saturday afternoon to be part of the Nebraska Democratic Presidential Caucus.

I’m glad I did. After participating, I have a slightly different view of the process than I wrote two weeks ago in this same space.

I have the same underlying concerns: one caucus location for the entire county limits participation and the voting process should be made more accessible to people, not less accessible.

Party representatives were pleased with the turn-out for this first-time event and expressed doubt multiple sites across the county would have drawn more people than ten percent (150) of the registered Democrats in Burt County (1,977 according to the Party website).

I was somewhat surprised also. Arriving shortly after the doors were scheduled to open, I found almost 60 people already inside on a bitterly cold day.

While those assembled were generally middle-aged and older, there were a few younger voters. My informal count indicated 12 Lyons-area residents that I recognized. I spoke with most of them.

Many (obviously column-readers) indicated some surprise I was in attendance. I explained I was giving up a previous commitment as well as a local memorial service to attend, but I felt it was important enough to make that commitment.

And to the others, I salute their commitment.

Most came with minds made up regarding their candidate of choice. When asked to align with a candidate, a slight majority favored Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton garnered the other large group. Four folks supported Dennis Kucinich and one solitary young man sided with the already-ended John Edwards campaign.

In the middle were 23 uncommitted individuals.

After brief speeches were finished, the supporters of the major candidates moved to persuade and convince the undecided and those supporting other candidates to move to their side.

When the final moving was done and count finished, Obama had 89 supporters and Clinton 61. County delegates will be split proportionally between the two.

Good experience? Yes. It is good when people have an opportunity to talk about issues and express concerns. In a state which is overwhelmingly Republican, the success of the caucus and the attention given to the minor Party was clearly important to state and county leaders.

The caucus was successful because the timing means the votes still mean something and are not an afterthought in May when other states have determined a clear winner and people feel passionate—very passionate—about their candidate. In four years, I hope there is one in Lyons that brings more representation to the process.