Crowd of conservatives convenes to caucus

Odessa’s Old Town Hall was the designated site for Republicans of Lincoln County Commissioner District 1 to caucus on March 3. A total of 18 precents were represented at the event. This was the first time Lincoln County had held pooled caucuses by commissioner district.

Norman Ott, Area Chairman for District 1, reported that 76 people participated at Old Town Hall, with 27 going for Ron Paul, 22 for Mitt Romney, 17 for Rick Santorum, 8 for Newt Gingrich and 2 undecided.

Results countywide were 57 for Santorum, 53 for Paul, 50 for Romney, 44 for Gingrich and 11 undecided. Romney was declared statewide winner with 38 percent of the vote.

A number of factors contributed to good turnout across the state; so good, in fact, that an estimated 1500 people were turned away from the caucus site in Kennewick, where approximately 3000 conservatives came as a surprise to organizers. The same site drew only 800 in 2008.

No one was turned away in Odessa, although Ott reported that it took much longer than expected to get everyone registered. “We nearly didn’t have enough time to sign everyone in,” he said.

According to Ott, attendance was good because the state is not holding a primary election this year, due to budget restraints. He said that he believes this is the first year since 1948 that the presidential candidacy has still been in question at the time Washington caucuses.

Increased national media attention and visits to the state by all the candidates also led to increased participation.

Saturday’s results are non-binding, meaning that no delegates to the national convention are awarded.

The caucus procedure allows participants to campaign for delegate positions at county conventions, where, in turn, delegates to state conventions are elected. State conventions then elect delegates to the national conventions.

Each precinct is allocated a number of delegates. For 2012, the 46 county precincts could have up to 122 delegates attend the county convention. That number increases to 124 with the inclusion of a state committeewoman and committeeman. Precinct committee officers are automatic delegates.

The Lincoln County Republican convention will be held in Davenport April 25. The state Republican convention will be held in Tacoma May 30 - June 2.