Breaking - First Alaska numbers

Over 1,000 people braved temperatures dropping below -30 degrees in Fairbanks, Alaska tonight in the Democratic precinct caucuses.  That's nearly 10 times the number who caucused in 2004.

With all of the Fairbanks districts reporting, and representing about 16 percent of the Alaska population, the totals are:
 71 % Obama
 26 % Clinton
  2 % Uncommitted

The Anchorage Daily News online reports that "Voters Swarm Precinct Caucus" - we've had one report that over 4,000 people caucused in Anchorage, setting new records there.

•  You go, Alaska!!!

  Hope is good.

  by nicejoest on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:24:25 PM PDT

  •  go Obama! Fire it Up!

    by concerned on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:32:48 PM PDT

•  Wow.

  All 20 of Alaska's democrats came out and voted.  YAY!

  Disclaimer:  I am a former Alaskan, born and raised.  It really is that red of a state.  For a while I wondered if Tony Knowles was the only demcorat in Alaska becuase was just running for EVERYTHING.

  by DawnG on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:26:03 PM PDT

  •  I'm surprised Gravel's not doing better.

    That's gotta hurt..... four years ago Howard Dean won VT even after he dropped out.

    by TLS66 on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:32:48 PM PDT

    •  It's been a long time...

      ....since Alaska voted Gravel into the Senate.

      by metal prophet on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:41:36 PM PDT

      •  I was born and raised in Anchorage.

        and I'd never even heard of Gravel until this election.

        by DawnG on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:48:14 PM PDT

•  4000?

  Okay I was joking before, but Anchorage has over a quarter million people, and only 4000 showed up to caucus for democrats?  I realize it's a record but that's still pretty dismal.  

  And can't blame the weather because it is after all...Alaska.  

  I walked a half hour in each direction in 20 below zero weather to watch "Titanic" when it first came out.  And I'm a total wimp by Alaskan standards.

  by DawnG on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:29:02 PM PDT

•  Fairbanks (district 8): Obama by 287-124 people

  We packed our main room (and all the little side rooms leading off it) to fire-hazard densities.  It got so hot my friends and I stood by a window and opened it to let that refreshing -30 air gush in on us.

  by Troutnut on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:32:13 PM PDT

  •  Minus-30?

    It's gotta be minus-40 up here on College Hill...

    by travis bushman on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:42:45 PM PDT

    •  Well it just got colder...

      The thermometer in my car said 32 below while I was driving home from the caucus, and it's usually right.  Now it's -39 at the airport a few hours later.

      by Troutnut on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 10:18:13 PM PDT

•  How good do you feel?

  All eyes have been on all states all day, and right now, they are looking at Alaska.

  Congratulations! And as an Obama supporter, thank you!

  by blueintheface on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:33:25 PM PDT

•  Kenai Peninsula goes for Obama too

  My sister was there (in Seward), and the turnout was great and she said Obama won by a 3:1 ratio.

  by drhgl19 on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:33:51 PM PDT

  •  Obama won my district by the same margin

    by Angry White Democrat on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 10:12:54 PM PDT

•  I wish I could have made it...

  but I haven't been here long enough to qualify as a registered voter. Just moved up here to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  I absentee-voted in California for Obama - and for Proposition 92.

  by travis bushman on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:41:48 PM PDT

•  Obama wins Alaska - msnbc

  by PROfess PROgress on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:45:38 PM PDT

•  Juneau results for Obama

  I left before they finished all the delegate business, but essentially in Juneau's two state House districts, it was Obama 67% in District 3 (downtown Juneau & Douglas Island) and 62% in District 4 (Mendenhall Valley, Auke Bay, & north).

  Attendance was huge --- 1031 attendees, the largest since the Ad Hoc Democrats took over the Alaska party for McGovern in 1972 when IIRC we had about 600.

  Since neither Kucinich or Edwards got the required 15 per cent in the initial fanout, those groups dissolved and most joined the Obama supporters.

  The fanout was delayed by an hour and a half while folks who were in the hall by the required 6 p.m. time signed in.  District Committee members had anticipated high attendance, but had only expected 400-500.

  Once again, Juneau leads Alaska Democrats in Party participation!  That's why the Anchorage right wingnuts used to refer to us as the People's Republic of Juneau.

  by HarpboyAK on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 09:48:43 PM PDT

•  this is completly

  absurd.

  Anyone care to do a mathematic value comparison of the single voter in Cal and Alaska?

  by Salo on Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 10:13:50 PM PDT

  •  I think you miss the point

    The excitement over this election -- and the excitement over Obama in particular -- has really built up interest among Alaskans in the Democratic party. There were thousands of non-Ds who changed their registration (or tried to but couldn't get into the building) just to vote in the caucuses.
    It's not all about the presidential race. It's also about building the party at the grass roots and bringing in new people and new support for ideas generally associated with the Democratic party.
    As I've said before, this dismissive national attitude about Democrats in places like Alaska and Idaho and Wyoming is just very demoralizing to progressives who do live in these places are are trying to make a much-needed difference.
    When people say it that Democratic party activities in Alaska don't count for anything, Alaska is just puny in population compared to California (true, but still. . .), any effort to get Alaska Democrats involved and excited is just worthless, etc., that just continues to make life difficult for all Democrats in Alaska. Frankly, until recently, Democratic candidates in Alaska generally hid their party identification as if it were something to be ashamed of -- not surprisingly, because national Democrats acted like Alaska was a joke (OK, we do give you lots of joke material, but still. . .) Lately, with the convergence of the Alaska Republican ethical meltdown and the Obama excitement, Alaska Democrats are starting to acknowledge and maybe even be proud of their party.
    It is important to have a strong and viable Democratic party even in places you might think are hopelessly red. It really does make a difference when it comes to, say, dealings with the oil industry or protection of water quality. It really does count to have Democrats in state and local government.
    And you know, I think that goes for Republicans, too. Members of both parties have an obligation, if we're to have a vigorous democracy that keeps opposing sides honest, to be active and to clearly articulate their viewpoints, even if they're in communities where their particular viewpoint is in the minority.

    by mtn mama on Wed Feb 06, 2008 at 05:46:41 PM PDT