Just back from the Kansas caucus

[hfojvt]

I did not expect to make it, as I was supposed to be out of town at a convention, but I bailed on the last day of the convention (for reasons unrelated to the caucus)

First I was blown away by the number of cars in the lot. Many more people than I had expected. I thought the larger crowd would favor Hillary, but the Bernie crowd was pretty big. There were 7 or 8 undecideds that I hung around with. Saw a bunch of people that I knew, some that I expected and some that I did not. One guy from my Baptist church was on the Bernie side. Another insurance salesman (with very deep pockets) was also there. There were at least as many older people as younger people on the Bernie side.

Lots of time to mingle around while the counting was going on. I grabbed a petition and started circulating that. Our candidate for treasurer is trying to save the $800 filing fee. I only got about 15 - 20 signatures for her though, so she may end up paying the fee anyway.

In the end there were only 547 people there. 305 for Bernie and 242 for Clinton. The Bernie people will love this though. Our county gets six delegates to the state convention. Well, Bernie ended up with 3.35 delegates and Clinton with 2.65 - so they both got 3. Then it was fairly disorganized and most people left before they voted on the delegates. Of the six that were running, I only knew one of them.

In spite of all the cars, it was a smaller turnout than 2008. In 2008 here Obama got 500 votes and Hillary 300.

Anyway, that's my report from the 6th largest county in Kansas. It will be a while before the official results trickle in.

[Logical]

1. My line was huge for a mostly red county. Johnson County. nt

[hfojvt]

2. What was the result?

I kind of expect Hillary to win in JoCo.

I did not have to stand in much of a line since I got there at about 2:40 for the 3 PM start.

[Logical]

19. No results yet. nt

[hfojvt]

21. are they still counting?

You are still there? Like the nun I was talking to at the caucus who was texting somebody.

[Logical]

24. No, I didn't sit through it, just voted and left. nt

[hfojvt]

27. hmmm

you have to stay until your vote is counted, and even then there should be a second count.

[Logical]

40. Mope, we signed a document casting vote for Bernie! Many did it. Nt

[itsrobert]

3. Yup, it's the Math. Bernie can't win by spliting delegates 50/50

or even 60/40

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Thanks for letting us know what it was like and for taking part, fascinating stuff!

I'm in New York and we don't vote until April 19th and it's a closed primary.

[hfojvt]

16. only my 3rd caucus

2008 was wild and packed, 2012 was small, maybe 30 people, this one pretty energetic.

For some reason I missed or skipped the Iowa caucus in 2000. I am not even sure why now. I never really knew where it was or even if I could go (I knew that little about caucuses). I might have been working that day.

I intended to go in 2004, even though Kerry was the nominee already, but I forgot. Sitting at home on Saturday night I was like "oh, the caucus was today and I missed it". I heard it was very small.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Thanks! I've really enjoyed hearing about the experiences from DUers in different states

Here in New York, we just vote. Or not. I'm probably kind of a PIA, since I encourage people I know to register and get out and vote, think it's that important. I have worked on the last three Congressional campaigns, won one and lost two, but I live in a fairly Republican area - upstate. I do what I can.

[Arazi]

5. Thank for caucusing! (is that a word, lol)

[Eric J in MN]

6. The DNC should require states to award all delegates based on statewide totals

...so every vote counts.

Not round-up and round-down at each precinct.

[hfojvt]

11. we caucus by state senate district

so there are perhaps 45 caucus sites. I think there are 40 senators, but our own 5th district was split between two locations, and we may not be the only one split.

[SheilaT]

7. At the caucus location in Lenexa

the final count was 944 Bernie, 488 Hillary per two different people who were there.

[hfojvt]

17. so much for my theory about JoCo

but whose Senate district is that?

[SheilaT]

31. I believe it's Senate district 21.

Greg Smith is the senator for that district.

Added on edit: Southern Johnson County, the Olathe part, is extremely conservative. Northern Johnson County is far more liberal.

[Mike Nelson]

8. Thank you...

...for the first hand report.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Lesson learned on the Clinton side

They let Obama run up the delegate score in just these kind of caucus states in 2008 (thank you, Mark Penn). This time they're trying to keep the margins smaller.

[hfojvt]

15. not really

Bernie just does not have the same core of support that Obama did. Caucuses usually have lower turn outs than primaries. In 2008, black people were fired up. They could taste it, they could make it happen that year - the first black President. The Obama supporters at my caucus in 2008 - probably 90% black people (rough guess). This year's caucus, probably 80% white people. Again a rough guess and not a big split as far as Bernie seemed to get about half of the black voters, although two of the six running for Clinton delegates were black women.

Clinton did send me at least two mailers, probably got my address as a caucus attendee in 2008. I got a mailer from Bernie yesterday. It did not say much as far as trying to persuade me to vote for Bernie. It said

"Now is our time. Billionaires have rigged our economy and they are counting on you staying home on caucus day. They say you are not committed enough. Prove them wrong and caucus."

[BeyondGeography]

25. They're fighting harder for votes this time around

That's a fact. And, I agree, the opponent is not as formidable.

[hfojvt]

28. so far though

she is losing the caucus states.

I expect her to lose in Kansas as well, but it depends on what JoCo and Wichita do. Douglas is likely to go for Bernie and Wyandotte for Clinton. Those are the Democratic strongholds. Topeka is the other big dog.

[BeyondGeography]

29. They expect to lose but not by the same margins as in '08

Like ID, where O got 80% of the vote and 15 of 18 delegates. You won't see that again.

[noretreatnosurrender]

10. Be careful about delegates

What do you want to bet some of those Bernie delegates were actually Clinton people. It wouldn't be too hard for a Clinton person to move over to the Bernie side. They know a lot of the Bernie people are first timers so they can easily get themselves elected as a delegate by pretending they support Bernie. Once they get to the Convention - surprise...they support Hillary. Pay close attention to whom you elect as a delegate.

[itsrobert]

13. Never thought of that

Sounds like a an interesting theory.

[noretreatnosurrender]

14. Not a theory

I've seen it happen and the Clinton's will do whatever it takes to win including something like this which is an underhanded, unethical betrayal of voters. In the scheme of things this is mild compared to what they've done in other areas.

[okasha]

22. That does not make a lot of sense.

It would be much easier in that case just to run and get chosen as a Clinton delegate in the first place.

[noretreatnosurrender]

23. Makes a Whole Lot of Sense

If you have two groups competing for delegates and your one vote isn't going to make a difference in how many delegates will be awarded at the Caucus to your candidate. You go to the other side and get elected to represent the person you don't support. Now YOUR candidate will get their delegates and they also get one on the other side should they need them at the convention. I've seen it done. Some people are just born cheaters.

[okasha]

26. So why aren't you equally concerned

by the prospect of Bernie supporters infiltrating the ranks of Clinton delegates?

Fortunately, I've seen the bargaining that does (and does not) go on in caucuses, and am not much given to conspiracy theories. YMMV

[noretreatnosurrender]

30. Why Should I Be Concerned

We have you for that. I've already stated I've seen it happen before. I worked on Bill Clinton's campaign in 1992 so I know it's no conspiracy theory, dear. It happened and it will happen again. I'm just warning my fellow Sanders supporters to be on the look out. If you want to warn your Hillary supporters you go for it. Heck you can probably use my comment and twist it to mean Sanders supporters cheat so you can justify it when the Hillary campaign does it because they WILL do it.

[okasha]

32. Your last sentence is perhaps

the most interesting point in your post. It indicates a possibility I hadn't considered before.

Or it could just be your way of processing/rationalizing Bernie's eventual loss. That, too, dear.

[noretreatnosurrender]

35. Yes

I'm so convinced of your honesty. The "I never thought of it" feint has been used once too often around here for anyone to take it seriously. But whatever gets you off, dear. Enjoy your evening.

[okasha]

39. I believe that one went over your head.

And a good evening to you, too.

[kgnu_fan]

12. kick

[HereSince1628]

20. Thanks for the report, CNN suggests 'possible' wins for Sanders in KS and NE

Strictly speaking, a neutral position before any other info would suggest the same for both candidates.

I think they meant more, but I also think on caucus and primary night that meaning isn't necessary coming from CNN, if you know what I mean...

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. CNN is reporting a larger turnout state wide than 2008

[hfojvt]

36. I am only reporting one county where I was

Surprising though that we would be down and other places up - unless perhaps it is Douglas.

Other counties may also have grown more than we did. JoCo and Douglas and Shawnee are probably a lot bigger than they were in 2008 and so are some neighboring counties like Miami and Jefferson.

Plus I am only remembering the numbers from 2008, and I cannot be sure about those numbers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. I know, I am just being a good polly

can I have a cookie?

[MrMickeysMom]

34. Thanks so much for this description!

K&R!

[AtomicKitten]

38. Thanks for reporting here.