Tales from a Tacoma Caucus

Tacoma, WA -

Parking was scarce at Jason Lee Middle School Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM and cars were circling around the residential blocks north of 6th Avenue, whose cute houses with well-manicured lawns draw a sharp contrast to the cluster of fast food restaurants and payday loan centers that take up most of the property across the 6th Ave and Division Street split.

So scarce that the nearest strip of empty curbside to be found was some six blocks away from the school, yet the recognition that turnout in America's often pitiful democratic process was flowing like the springtime Puyallup River made the three minute walk go by in a preference sheet-counting moment.

Obama Sign Outside: An Obama Sign Greets Voters in Tacoma

Inside Jason Lee the atmosphere was nearly as hectic as the first day of school or a rainy indoor recess in early June. The cafeteria was packed with people signing into their precincts, writing down their voter information, selecting a preferred candidate, asking where they needed to go to caucus, and otherwise chatting nervously with their neighbors and families.

Cafeteria Crowd: Voters Inside Jason Lee Cafeteria Hungry for Change

"I love the smell of the democratic process in the morning."

Those were the words of Geoff Stella, 23, a first time caucuser and recent Linfield College graduate who recently moved back to Tacoma. He was joined at the caucus by his father, John, who was supporting Hillary to counter his Geoff's Obama vote.

"I last caucused back in 1984," the elder Stella told me, "and it was a lot smaller then. We met in somebody's house and I got to be a delegate to the county convention."

He wasn't too concerned with the outcome Saturday, nor was he in 1984 when he caucused for Gary Hart in the primary but proudly voted for Mondale come November. As was teh case twenty-four years ago, Stella felt that both Clinton and Obama had great qualities. Especially at the beginning of the day, such bi-candidate affection was common.

Dueling Signs: The Choices Were Clear on Saturday

So was a divided family. In fact, nowhere can family politics be seen so closely than a caucus. Pre-teens sat in corners playing with portable handheld gaming devices, babies were carried around in backpacks and toddlers followed their parents around in the hallway clutching them by the hand. And it isn't just family togetherness on display at the caucus. Sometimes husbands and wives, brothers and sisters go their separate ways.

A uniquely beautiful aspect of the caucus is the physical space that is involved in the voting. Once the precincts count up their voting preferences, supporters of each candidate meet up in groups on opposite sides of their caucus location and one can see what a voting bloc looks like.

Saturday, when nearly all of the voters were split between two candidates, this rift was particularly glaring. Husbands and wives would give a quick kiss or squeeze hands as one sheepishly headed over to the Obama or Clinton camps, wherever their spouse wasn't.

That same physical space also gave way to miniature political stages, where voters told their neighbors why they were there, hoping they might, in a one minute speech, win over the support of the undecideds and maybe even their direct opponents.

Elections Are about Cartoons: Caucusers Talk Politics in a Childish Setting

In one instance, Shirley Gordon was given front row and center to tell her story of democratic persistence. Gordon is eighty-four years old, though with her youthful face, vibrant voice and a newly replaced hip, she didn't look a day over sixty-five. Gordon carries the remarkable distinction of having voted for more than sixty years, an honor for which she received a certificate from the state a few years ago. A self-described political junkie who watches CNN and MSNBC when she isn't listening to Air America, Gordon announced to nearly two hundred in her precinct that she was supporting Obama.

"He inspires me," she said. "He gives me hope for the future and I love him."

That last sentiment elicited cheers from the crowd which prompted Gordon to say, "I love Hillary, too!"

As preference counts were completed and factions spread apart, the lovefest between the two candidates that was repeatedly described as "such a great choice" in nearly every precinct at Jason Lee, began to deteriorate into a much more heated debate between two distinct choices. The passion that brought record numbers of voters to the caucuses was on full display as people stood on chairs, yelling over the din of competing precincts and whispering neighbors to give full throated advocacy for their Senator.

Clintonites were expectedly saddened as the large margins of victory by Obama became more and more clear.

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Kathy Caraher was selected as a delegate for Hillary Clinton from the 314th district. She said she was "very disappointed" that Obama won her district 76-54, resulting in an eight to six delegate count. When informed that her precinct was in fact the closest of all held at Jason Lee her jaw dropped, "oh my gosh!" The disappointment was palpable.

Jonathan Schilling, 31, was also for Hillary. "I'm a little disappointed," he said regarding Obama's sizeable margin of victory. "I thought it would be more 50-50." Schilling said he wasn't totally against Obama, but felt that "he needs more experience."

Conversely, the Obama voters were in high spirits by the end of the day.

Tony Forte is a physician and a lifelong Republican who came out to his first ever caucus. "This is really cool. I'm energized."

In the past, most of his voting has been based on issues that pertain to his profession, "but Obama transcends all of that. I think that speaks to how profound his message is."

Aquilla Jackson, 41, was one of the few African-Americans at the North End caucus site. Friday he was turned away at the door after driving up to Seattle's Key Arena to see Barack Obama, yet he stood outside in the cold for two and a half hours to hear Obama speak, and was delighted to see that Obama made sure to address those who couldn't get in with a brief impromptu speech before the event.

Saturday he caucused for Obama noting "Barack's platform of change resonates with all Americans."

Kelly Carson, 24, also caucused for Obama and was chosen as an alternate delegate to the county convention. She has lived in Tacoma for just under two years, having been born and raised in the South.

"Everyone was really passionate," she said. "There was a lot of excitement all around."

Speaking to her support, she admitted she was undecided until about a week ago, and even leaning toward Clinton earlier in the winter. "I've seen the polls, a lot of people are really against Clinton. Plus I am tired of the dynasties in politics."

The rest of Washington, if Jason Lee's caucus was indicitave, had to have been tired after a long two hours of hectic caucusing. But, as results showed, they also seemed to feel the same way as Carson, Jackson and Forte about thier politics.