After Super Tuesday dust settles, spotlight to shift here (Ne's 1st ever)

[Omaha Steve]

This isn't about candidates so I put it here instead of primaries

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10248726

Published Sunday | February 3, 2008
After Super Tuesday dust settles, spotlight to shift here
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN - As the mastermind of the Nebraska Democratic Party's first-ever presidential caucuses, Vince Powers heard plenty of jokes last summer about the wisdom of holding them in one of the nation's most Republican states.

"Vince's Folly," some called it, arguing that the presidential nomination surely would be clinched by the time Nebraska held its caucuses on Feb. 9.

Today, no one is ribbing Powers or the party's decision to try to grab a little of the presidential spotlight.

As the high-wire presidential battle grinds into February, Nebraska Democrats are poised to be players in the fight. And they're excited.

In the past couple of weeks, the telephone has been ringing nonstop at state Democratic Party and Douglas County Democratic Party headquarters.



A month ago, Douglas County Democrats were crossing their fingers and hoping that 3,000 would show up to caucus.

Today, they're logging 100 calls a day and predicting a countywide turnout upward of 12,000, said Kris Pierce, a county party official.

A month ago, few could have predicted that Barack Obama would court Nebraskans' votes.

Today, he has established a campaign office in north Omaha, has seven paid staffers in the state and is running television and radio advertisements.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is scheduled to campaign for Obama today in Omaha, and also to make a stop in Lincoln - and there's also talk that Obama himself may visit this week.

"This is a historic election. We have a woman trying to be the first woman president and a black candidate trying to be the first black president. And Nebraska gets to be part of it. What could be sweeter?" Powers crowed.

"It's been a long time since (Nebraska) Democrats have had a chance to participate and have their votes matter. And we're loving it."

Only Democrats in Nebraska will caucus Saturday. Republicans chose to stay with their traditional presidential primary, which will be May 13.

The Nebraska caucuses will come four days after Super Tuesday, when 23 states hold caucuses, primaries or a convention.


FULL story at link.