Rhonda Venters has never attended a Colorado caucus.
Not that she hasn't voted in previous general elections. But the
caucuses, usually the exclusive domain of party regulars and policy
wonks, was one step too involved for the owner of M&M Hair Haven in
Park Hill.
The excitement building in the presidential race, though, has
changed things for Venters, 50, who said she is a Barack Obama
supporter.
"I'm feeling moved. I'm caught up in the 'change,' " said the
registered Democrat, referring to Obama's campaign slogan. "I'm going
to the caucus."
Colorado is bracing for possible record turnouts in the Feb. 5
presidential caucuses, as state voters get swept up in the country's
election fever.
Massive turnouts at the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary indicate that voters
want to play a pivotal role in the country's most open presidential
seat in more than 50 years. And Colorado voters — on both sides of the
aisle — are no different.
Republican Mort Marks, 83, plans to hold a caucus at his house. He
said he has received calls from a lot of people he hasn't heard from
before, and he has noticed larger turnout at recent Republican events.
"There is a hell of a lot more interest than I've seen in
many, many years," said Marks, who hasn't decided which GOP candidate
he will support. "There is a feeling that people are looking for
leadership, but people are also split on the candidates."
GOP and Democratic Party officials say they are expecting much
higher participation at the caucuses than they have had in years. State
GOP head Dick Wadhams said the intensity of the race was certain to
bring out new attendees.
State Democrats have told their county precincts "to prepare
for record turnout," said spokesman Matt Sugar, who noted that his
party is involved in numerous caucus trainings.
Many Colorado Republicans have shown a lot of interest in
attending the caucuses but, like Marks, aren't sure which candidate
will get their backing.
Republican Norman Mack of Sheridan said he's looking for a
"straight-shooter," but his political heart isn't easily won. Not
swayed by campaign speeches, he believes voters should focus in on the
candidates' records.
"There's a couple of candidates I'm interested in, but it's
still early," he said, naming Mitt Romney as one. "I'm very careful who
I vote for, especially for president, House and Senate."
Party-certain but candidate-unsure is not confined just to the Republicans.
Democrat Dan Gundlach, a 40-year-old Denverite, said he is
focused on getting the GOP out of the White House and thinks Obama,
Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards all have a lot to offer. He
plans to attend the caucuses, if he can get away from his East Colfax
coffee shop, Geez, Louise!
"If I was looking globally, I would choose Hillary because
she's already met most of the world leaders," he said. "But if I'm
looking at America only, I think Obama or Edwards would do a better
job."
Unlike Iowa and New Hampshire, Colorado does not have
so-called open caucuses. Only those who registered as a Democrat or
Republican by the first week in December can attend the caucuses.
Unaffiliateds — the state's second-largest registered group — cannot
show up and vote.
The state currently boasts just over 1 million Republicans,
994,575 unaffiliateds and 875,650 Democrats. Unaffiliateds have
increased by about 50,000 since March, while Democrats went up about
25,000 and Republicans 12,000.
Colorado is one of more than 20 states taking part in what's
known as Super Tuesday. The front-loaded nomination schedule has
accelerated the process, which may potentially result in both parties
producing a nominee by dawn on Feb. 6.
The country would then have a two-candidate race for nine months — a historical first.
Both parties exhibited record turnouts in Iowa with 239,000
Democrats and 115,000 Republicans. The Democrats set a record in New
Hampshire and currently appear most mobilized with young voters, who
turned out in big numbers.
Interest is high for Colorado college students, said Cory Nadler, campus organizer for Colorado's Student PIRG, a nonpartisan
organization that includes voter registration of young people as a key
project.
Nadler said that the PIRG group, working with student
government and another group, New Era, had signed up 3,000 University
of Colorado at Boulder students since August — and all of them before
the caucus deadline.
"The way politics are playing out this year, . . . young people are definitely interested," Nadler said.
Cory Madden, a student at the University of Denver, said part of
his class is engaged in a youth voting project to get people involved
in the presidential race.
He hasn't registered yet but plans to as a Democrat. However, he doesn't know which Democrat will get his vote.
"I'm just not getting a huge political vibe yet," said Madden, 19, who is originally from Ohio.
However, not everyone is enthralled with the upcoming elections.
His friend Hilary Robinson, also 19, said she would be unaffiliated. If
she registers.
"I may not vote at all," said the New Mexico native. "I know I should, but it bores me."
