Obama, Romney take Otter Tail

By Jeff Hage (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Otter Tail County voters came out for their precinct caucuses in record numbers Tuesday night and made their voices heard loud and clear — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Ronmey and Democrat Barack Obama are their men.

With 92 percent of the caucus results tallied, Obama claimed 392 votes to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 290 in Otter Tail County’s Democratic caucuses. The votes were tallied from voters in the county’s 91 precincts. In a surprising third place finish, Bill Richardson garnered 10 votes among county Democrats. John Edwards had six and Dennis Kucinich three.

On the Republican side it was former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney taking on the role of favorite among Otter Tail County voters. Romney took 258 votes. Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, came in second with 179 votes. Arizona senator John McCain trailed with 147 votes for a third-place finish.

Rounding out Otter Tail County Republican results were Ron Paul with 68 votes, Alan Keyes had six votes.

Voter turnout was strong throughout the county, including Fergus Falls.

Overall numbers are not reported to the county, said County Auditor Wayne Stein, but Fergus Falls caucus leaders kept turnout numbers.

In the cities of Fergus Falls, Dalton, Elizabeth and their surrounding townships, 387 people turned out to participate at the caucuses at Fergus Falls High School, said Allison Myhre, associate chair of the county’s Democratic party.

Obama received 243 at the Fergus Falls caucus. Clinton had 140 votes.

“The turnout was unprecedented and we were scrambling to copy more ballots throughout the evening,” Myhre said.

Turnout was twice as large at the Democratic caucus than expected, she said.

Across the street at the Fergus Falls Middle School turnout was equally heavy.

At the Fergus Falls caucus Romney claimed 103 votes. Huckabee had 60 votes followed by McCain with 37 votes. Not far behind was Ron Paul, who had 31 votes. The totals were rounded out with one vote each for Fred Thompson and Newt Ginrich.

“We were overwhelmed,” said Mary Hauser, a volunteer tallying results at the Republican caucus.

Hauser estimated a crowd of 275 had gathered at the middle school.

“We had far more people than expected,” Hauser said.

“The reason, I think, is because we had a field of candidates. When you have just one candidate you don’t have the turnout. It’s wonderful to see because at the caucus it’s the time you really have a say,” she said. Hauser was encouraged by the enthusiasm caucus-goers had for being involved in the election process.

She said local Republicans had no trouble getting delegates to next month's county convention nor was there trouble getting alternates.