2008 Woodie Awards
Kansas nominates presidential candidates
Huckabee, Obama win
Cameron Siefkes
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Collegian Front Page
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This is the first time in 20 years Kansas has held a caucus. The caucus that took place at the high school was primarily for Sumner and Cowley Counties, but anyone from the 4th District was allowed to participate.
The process was done differently
than what happened in Cowley County on Super Tuesday.
Ray LaBoeuf, Sumner County
Republican Chairman, said, "The process we're using for today
is what I would call a hybrid because we've used rules from a caucus plus rules from a primary.
What we've taken from the primary is that we allowed people to come in, vote, and leave. People have schedules and I wanted to give as many people the opportunity to vote as could participate."
People listened to speeches on each candidate in the auditorium while others cast their ballots in the lobby. These speeches were given in order to inform the public of each candidate's policies
and to make it easier for a person who was undecided to pick their candidate.
LaBoeuf was happy with the amount of people who attended. "I'm pleased by the numbers. I expected about a thousand people. I think since we've had some candidates drop out we expected the numbers to drop down and they did," said LaBoeuf.
Students who could not even vote attended the caucus to see how the system worked. Cheryl Davis, music junior, said, "I went to see what is was about and see what happens and I went because I am a Republican."
Not being able to vote did not stop her from showing support for her candidate. "I would support
Huckabee because I strongly
believe in what he stands for. McCain is a bit top liberal for me and I don't know anything about Ron Paul."
Many people like Davis are happy because former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won in Kansas with 59.6 percent of the vote. John McCain followed with 23.5 percent. However, Huckabee remains behind McCain
in the national polls.
On Feb. 2 about 500 people attended the Democratic Caucus
at First Christian Church in Winfield. The large numbers were more than what was expected
by Todd Moore, chair of the Cowley County Democrats. "The numbers were double than what I thought it would be and it was big all over the state," said Moore.
He believes this says a lot about what the people of America
want. "People want some change and are fed up with the leadership of the country," said Moore.
One person who is offering
that change is Sen. Barack Obama, who won the Democratic
Caucus in Kansas. There will be six delegates from Cowley
County to represent him at the District Convention on April 12. Hillary Clinton, who came in second, will get three delegates.
Moore will be one of the six to represent Obama. "I feel as though it is a reward for being the party chair and I'm very excited
to represent Barack at the next level."
Tag Wall, philosophy and religion
freshman, was chosen to represent Clinton. He was up against eight other people who were vying for a spot. "I had to be pretty careful with my words as I realized exactly what I could or couldn't say in order to convince the voters I was the right choice. I eventually commented
on my own public opinions
of Clinton and how she and I can connect through each of us believing in the poverty sectors
of America, realizing that overall it is about helping others and not about power or wealth," said Wall.
This will be an opportunity for Wall to get the experience he has always wanted.
Wall said, "I couldn't really think of a better way to make connections and network with some of the top political activists
in the state."
Overall, this opportunity will help him show support for his candidate.
"The experience of getting to represent Hillary is awesome. She is one person who I believe can start on day one in the White House."
Cameron Siefkes is a sophomore
majoring in communication.
You may e-mail her at cameron.siefkes@sckans.edu.
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