By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com

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Independent/Scott Kingsley Michael Cronin, 13th Precinct captain, directs voters to the areas reserved for the candidate they support during the democratic caucus at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island Saturday afternoon. It marked the first democratic caucus for the state. Independent/Scott Kingsley Kathy Johnson fills out the paper work to switch her party affiliation from republican to democrat in order to participate in the democratic caucus at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island Saturday afternoon. Johnson switched parties because of the candidates, and favors Sen. Hillary Clinton for president. Independent/Scott Kingsley Former congressional candidate Scott Kleeb talks with Susan Scarborough before the Democratic party causcus at Firs Presbyterian Church in Grand Island. Kleeb stopped by to watch the proceedings and planned on attending his own later in the afternoon. Independent/Scott Kingsley Brian Vahle carries more chairs into the fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island Saturday during the state's first ever Democratic Caucus. Click Thumbnails to View

One was former Congressional candidate Scott Kleeb, who drifted through the room, giddily snapping photos like a proud parent at a soccer game.

"Do that again!" said Kleeb, wearing a Barack Obama sticker and holding out a camera, after a group of Hillary Clinton supporters finished a "Go Hillary" chant.

The debates were spirited and the scene occasionally hectic, but the overwhelming mood at Saturday's first-ever Democratic caucuses at First Presbyterian was exuberance at seeing a room overflowing with Democrats, at experiencing a new form of voting, at finally seeing votes that mattered.

"I love it," said Randy Blair as more than 250 voters filled the room before the caucuses began. "We're seeing something unfold that we haven't seen at least in my lifetime."

Those voters most wearing "Hello my name is" stickers and a pin or sticker for either candidate eventually became too much for the cramped fellowship hall.

Organizers ran out of chairs for attendees, and caucuses for four of the seven precincts at the church were moved out of the room to an adjacent lounge and a nearby overflow space.

Once the precincts were split off, they divided largely into two camps supporting Clinton and Obama, though a few held out as undecided voters, waiting to hear each camp's pitch.

In the 15th precinct, a vocal group of about two dozen Clinton supporters cheered in agreement as their spokeswoman, Katherine Sedlacek, praised the senator's experience and willingness to work across party lines.

"She's a great listener," Sedlacek said. "She really cares about the American people and our American dream."

In response, Jim Butz, who spoke for a smaller group of Obama supporters, said Clinton wasn't electable.

"I think she'll have every Republican against her," he said.

He also criticized her handling of health care reform in the early 1990s, which touched off a passionate back-and-forth exchange between the two groups.

Nearby, about 15 people in the 14th precinct sat huddled in a circle, engaged in a much quieter discussion.

An Obama staffer was called over by a supporter to address the Internet rumor that the candidate does not put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, quickly dispelling the idea.

After one undecided voter joined each side, the precinct's captain declared the final results: The precinct's six delegates would be split between the two candidates.

Across the room, in the 13th precinct, Obama supporters dominated the count, drawing a handful of undecided voters and taking five of seven delegates.

Many voters milled around afterward, excitedly discussing the candidates and praising the caucus system.

Freda Hanke, who voted in the 14th precinct, preferred the caucuses to casting ballots, calling her caucus "interesting and informative."

"Everyone had an opinion," Hanke said. "You can discuss things rather than just going in and casting a vote."

Several attendees said they enjoyed hearing the thoughts of both younger and older voters.

"That was excitement to see the kids that were still in school, to see who knows how many new voters," said Judy Vohland, the site coordinator.

About 30 of the voters at First Presbyterian changed their party affiliation at the site, Vohland said.

One of those voters, Judy McCarthy, said she switched from the Republican party because that race is already settled.

"It just feels nice to be able to feel that my vote counts," she said.

Kleeb, who was making one of several stops before his own Adams County caucus late Saturday afternoon, said he could see the caucuses infusing the state's Democrats with more energy and new blood.

"This is incredible," he said. "This is neighbor talking to neighbor about the future of our country."