Wyandotte County Democrats

Temperatures hovering in the single digits didn’t prevent the Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democrats from gathering at The Woodlands on Saturday, January 19 for their monthly breakfast meeting. Lindsay Gentry, Third District Director for the Kansas State Democratic Party, was the featured speaker. Lindsay addressed and educated those gathered on the subject of the upcoming February 5 State Democratic Party Presidential Caucus. There is a great deal of interest this year in the state caucus. This isn’t the first time Kansas Democrats have held a caucus, but it is the first time in decades that it has been held on the most important day in presidential politics – Super Tuesday. Twenty-two other states, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado, will be holding their caucuses or primaries on the same day. The Democratic Presidential nomination may well be decided on February 5th and Kansans will have helped to determine the outcome.

72 of the 79 Democrats attending the breakfast chose to participate in the fifth in a series of presidential primary “straw” polls. For the first time, Wyandotte County Democrats reflect the national sentiment that no clear front runner has yet emerged. While the national media seems to be focused on Obama and Clinton, in Wyandotte County, this is still definitely a three-way race. Senator Barack Obama finished in first place with 35% of the vote. Senator Hillary Clinton came in a close second with 32%. Former Senator John Edwards continues to have substantial labor support in the county and finished an equally strong third with 28% of votes cast. Congressman Dennis Kucinich came in with 3%, while 1% had yet to decide which candidate to support.

For more information about the upcoming caucus and to stay apprised of coming events, please visit our web site: http://www.wycodemocrats.org/

Story by Carol Finney, Breakfast vice chair