People—well, Democrats, really, and kids, and people who usually tune out—are more plugged in and excited than I've ever seen. Crowds of 20,000+ people are showing up to hear a politician speak. Kids are actually voting in the numbers only promised and never followed through on in most years. Polling stations are being overwhelmed. People are donating tens of millions of dollars to their favorite campaigns online.
Now, surely there are several factors involved (Bush fatigue and cyclical pendulum swings among them), but it can't be denied that Obama's campaign is largely responsible. Somehow, he's tapped into a huge amount of energy and and found a brilliant way to convey his message and galvanize people. It's really remarkable. I mean really, really remarkable.
As I mentioned above, polling stations in virtually every state that's held a caucus or a primary have been flooded with more people than they could handle. Anywhere from 2 to 4 times as many people are showing up than in a normal year.
And Hawaii is no exception. Hawaiians came out in droves last night. (With 30% in, it's Obama 74%, Clinton 25%.)
Here are a couple of excerpts from the Honolulu Advertiser:
Big Island voters jam caucus sites
At Hilo High School, caucus participants jammed the overheated cafeteria while precinct leaders bellowed out the names of registered participants.
Kevin Hopkins, who stood at the door directing participants to the areas of the cafeteria designated for their precincts, advised latecomers to "just squeeze in as best you can." He said he had no idea how many hundreds of people were packed into the room.
Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, a party activist for 40 years, joked that at that point in an ordinary caucus year, a handful of Democrat diehards would be at caucus sites using their cell phones to coax other party members in to vote because there weren't enough people to organize.
"This year, I have had people stop me at the supermarket ... asking, 'Where do I go?' "
Kapolei sees four times as many voters
At Kapolei Middle School's middle cafeteria, Carolyn Golojuch, chairwoman of the District 40 Caucus site, said she was prepared for a larger-than-normal crowd.
"I'm not sweating this," she said. "They say this will be 10 times bigger than anything we've ever had before. But you know what? Last year time we only had 20 people."
Shortly after 6 p.m. — an hour before the caucus began — at least 80 people were already lined up.
More than 3,000 ready to vote in Manoa
Manoa Elementary School's cafeteria was packed and the line to sign in wrapped around the outdoor blacktop and playground area as more than 3,200 people lined up an hour before they could vote.
"I'm 60 and this is my first time voting," said Manoa resident Alysa Kealoha.
Kealoha said the last candidate who inspired her was former President John F. Kennedy and she was still a teenager when she watched him get assassinated.
Democratic voters line up for caucus
More than 500 people were lined up outside polling site Kawananakoa Middle School by 6 p.m. and dozens more were arriving by the minute.
…
Jack Campbell, a lifelong Democrat, said he never before felt compelled to vote in the caucus. The 73-year-old is rooting for Sen. Barack Obama. "This is the first time we've got something new and different," he said.
…
Tonight's Hawai'i Democratic caucus is expected to draw a record number of voters, and party officials say those going to caucus sites may face long lines.
Hawai'i, which has never seen a caucus turnout of more than 5,000 Democrats, could see as many as 12,000 people for the presidential preference poll. Voters will also select delegates to the state convention in May.
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