Voters learn how to caucus

By Rolf Boone | The Olympian • Published February 08, 2008

About 250 supporters of the front- running presidential candidates have participated in caucus training in Thurston County in the past two weeks, gearing up for Saturday's precinct caucuses.

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About 45 supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton participated in training Thursday night in Tumwater. Thurston County Republicans had two caucus trainings last Tuesday and Thursday, and supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama gathered Saturday at the Thurston County Courthouse.

The Thurston County Republican and Democratic precinct caucuses run from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and are open to people who are registered to vote in their precinct or will be 18 by the November general election.

The two Republican meetings weren't structured to support a particular Republican candidate but to provide information about the caucuses, Thurston County Republican chairman Dan Cathers of Olympia said.

Together, the meetings attracted more than 100 people, he said.

Some who attended had a pretty solid grasp on the caucus process; it was new to others, and they were excited about the opportunity to participate, Cathers said.

Cathers declined to say who he is supporting for the Republican presidential nomination.

But former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, who is involved with Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, said he has known McCain for 10 years and thinks highly of him.

"Trust, experience, absolute integrity and a lifetime of training to lead the country," Munro said about McCain's presidential qualifications.

Thursday night's Clinton caucus training session was led by Jim Kainber of Olympia, a state delegate-selection and caucus coordinator for Clinton.

The Clinton and Obama meetings differed in their approach to training.

Kainber took a step-by-step approach to explaining the caucus; the Obama supporters first praised their candidate for 90 minutes of a three-hour meeting.

Martin Ball of Rainier said Obama could unite the country in a time of divisive politics.

"It's time for people to realize that they are more alike than different," Ball said.

Walt Bowen, who served as co-chairman of the Obama meeting with his wife, Karen, and Debby Pattin, all of Olympia, have experience as caucus delegates. Karen Bowen was a national delegate for Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Walt Bowen was on a platform committee for Bill Clinton in 1992. Pattin was a national delegate for John Kerry in 2004.

Mike Anderson of Olympia, who attended the Clinton training, acknowledged that he still is undecided about whether to support Clinton or Obama.

Dana Larson of Olympia said she supports Clinton because she is a woman. Of the 45 people at the training, more than half were women.

Obama supporter Susan Dodson of Olympia, a veteran of the 2004 caucus, said she prefers the caucus to the impersonal voting booth.

"You and your neighbors talk to each other and voice your opinions," Dodson said. "It makes you feel that you're really part of the process."

Thurston County Democratic party volunteer Stewart Henderson of Olympia reminded voters that a vote in the primary election has no effect on delegate selection. Only by participating in the caucus can voters elect delegates, Henderson said.

Rolf Boone is a reporter for The Olympian. He can be reached rboone@theolympian.com or 360-754-5403.