Posted on 03/08/2008 11:38:53 AM PST by COUNTrecount
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Barack Obama took the lead over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in early returns Saturday as Democrats crowded caucuses in Wyoming, the latest contest in the candidates' close, hard-fought race for the party's presidential nomination. Obama led Clinton 61 percent to 38 percent with 11 of 23 counties reporting.
Obama generally has outperformed Clinton in caucuses, which reward organization and voter passion more than do primaries. The Illinois senator has won 12 caucuses to Clinton's three.
But Clinton threw some effort into Wyoming, perhaps hoping for an upset that would yield few delegates but considerable buzz and momentum. The New York senator campaigned Friday in Cheyenne and Casper. Former president Bill Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, also campaigned this week in the sprawling and lightly populated state.
Obama campaigned in Casper and Laramie on Friday, but spent part of his time dealing with the fallout from an aide's harsh words about Clinton and suggestions that Obama wouldn't move as quickly to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq if elected. In Casper, Obama said Clinton had no standing to challenge his position on the war because she had voted to authorize it in 2002.
Clinton, buoyed by big wins in Ohio and Texas last Tuesday, said she faced an uphill fight in Wyoming. Her campaign also holds out little hope for Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, which has a large black population.
Both candidates were looking ahead to the bigger prize—delegate-rich Pennsylvania on April 22.
In Wyoming, 12 national convention delegates were at stake. During the first caucuses of the day, it appeared the state's Democrats were showing up in record numbers. In 2004, a mere 675 people statewide took part in the caucuses.
In Sweetwater County, more than 500 people crowded into a high school auditorium and another 500 were lined up to get inside.
"I'm worried about where we're going to put them all. But I guess everybody's got the same problem," said Joyce Corcoran, a local party official. "So far we're OK. But man, they keep coming."
Party officials were struggling with how to handle the overflow crowds. The start of the Converse County caucus was delayed due to long lines.
In Cheyenne, scores of late arrivers were turned away when party officials stopped allowing people to get in line at 11 a.m. EST. A party worker stood at the end of the line with a sign reading, "End of the line. Caucus rules require the voter registration process to be closed at this time."
State party spokesman Bill Luckett said they were obligated to follow its rules as well as those of the Democratic National Committee regarding caucus procedures.
"Everybody knew the registration began over an hour before the caucus was called to order. We've done everything we could to accommodate people in the long lines," Luckett said.
In Casper, home of the state party's headquarters, hundreds were lined up at the site of the Natrona County caucus. The location was a hotel meeting room with a capacity of 500. Some 7,700 registered Democrats live in the county.
"We'll have to put 'em in the grass after a while," said Bob Warburton, a local party official.
About 59,000 registered Democrats are eligible to participate in Wyoming's caucuses.
Only in the last few weeks have the campaigns stepped up their presence in Wyoming, opening offices and calling voters and sending mailers. The first visit came Thursday, when former President Clinton made three appearances in Wyoming.
Not including Wyoming delegates, which have not yet been allocated, Obama held the lead in delegates, 1,571-1,463. But Clinton has the edge with superdelegates—the party officials and elected leaders—242-210. A total of 2,025 delegates is needed to win the nomination.
Although a win in Wyoming may not persuade many superdelegates, it will be one more prize for the candidates as they make their case for the nomination.
for later
Anyone who would vote for either Obama or HRC is a moron, also known as a Democrat.
It sure is funny how Obama keeps winning these states that we’ve been told are full of closed-minded white racists, and Hillary wins the states we are told are bastions of racial equality.
Looks like old Hilly is getting her butt kicked again.
“Anyone who would vote for either Obama or HRC is a moron, also known as a Democrat.”
My next door neighbor is a moderate Republican. He is voting RAT because of 2006. However he said if it is Obama/McCain he will vote for McCain.
I found that interesting. Maybe Rush should have went for Obama instead of Hillary. At least we know that Hillary will use the success of Iraq(she voted for it) to take the argument of national security away from McCain.
The Clintons SPIN everything as they want it to be, not what it is. They spin a loss as a win, and another person’s win as a loss. That’s the way they operate. How I dearly hope these two will just go away; but unless OBAMA perks up and shows a bit more moxy - Hillary will beat him in the primaries and he will take the VP position behind her or else just fade away.
“The Clintons SPIN everything as they want it to be, not what it is. They spin a loss as a win, and another person’s win as a loss. That’s the way they operate. How I dearly hope these two will just go away; but unless OBAMA perks up and shows a bit more moxy - Hillary will beat him in the primaries and he will take the VP position behind her or else just fade away.”
But if Hillary loses to Obama in the delegate-rich Pennsylvania on April 22, she might just have to spin right out of the race!
Right, it is also funny that western white liberals do not like Hildebeast much.
So much for Hildebeast "breaking Obamas momentum".
The witch is going to get her big ass kicked severely in Missisipi soon, and Missisipi has 3 times more delegates than Wyoming. Given she can win Pelsylwania big she is going to come about 100 delegates less than Obama.
The monster is toast.
Go to: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/29/delegate.counter/index.html play with delegates and see it yourself.
Wow!!!!
Even if she wins big in Pensylwania she is toast.
Go to:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/29/delegate.counter/index.html
and find it yourself.
Hillary Obama Other
votes/delegates votes/delegates votes/delegates
TOTAL 2796 114.0 4028 158.0 71 2.0
20 of 23 counties reporting
Thanks for the info! Guess Hillary will have to steal the nomination somehow!
I played with it and gave the Clintons a win in every remaining state including todays Wyoming caucus (which we know Obama already won) and they still came up wee bit short.
Fact is, the Clintons only gained about 10 delegates last week despite all the "comeback kid" hoo-hah. They are giving back a handful today and once Mississippi is done Tuesday night (highest black population in America), they will be right back where they started from before March 4.
Go Obama!
Right and she will get it kicked again on Tuesday in Mississippi.
Anyone else would have dropped out after the loss of Texas. Yes, Hillary lost Texas when you count the delegates not the popular vote.
And Obama will be highly favored in NC with its 115 delegates.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.