Democrats: Caucus turnout may top 200,000

Even in heavily Republican Lewis County, the Republican caucuses at W.F. West High School in Chehalis drew only about 15 people, compared to more than 160 at a Democratic caucus elsewhere in the school.

"The only choice is McCain," Maria Easley, a 40-year-old financial analyst from Chehalis, who was first to arrive with her 12-year-old-son Clay in tow. Like many Republicans, Easley isn't enthusiastic about McCain, a maverick known for bucking his own party. "McCain is a bit wishy-washy. I'm not sure where he stands from day-to-day. But I don't think that Huckabee can go the distance."

Over at the Democratic caucuses, Nelda Thornton said she had been leaning toward Clinton but ultimately backed Obama because of recent hardball campaign tactics from former President Bill Clinton.

"I got tired of him. He had a real negative effect for me," Thornton said. "He made me realize that I'm tired of the Clintons, I'm tired of the Bushes, and I'm ready to move forward."

In one Chehalis precinct, three Clinton supporters and three Obama supporters all refused to yield, forcing a coin-flip to decide which candidate got the precinct's lone delegate.

'It's heartbreaking'
Kay Braden of Chehalis, a fervent Clinton supporter, called heads for Clinton, but it came up tails for Obama, who was a big winner at the site.

"It's heartbreaking. I still think she's the best candidate," Braden said as she put her head down on the table.

Democrats will allocate all 78 of their elected national delegates through the caucuses, and Republicans will use results to allot about half of their 37 elected delegates.

The state also has a presidential primary on Feb. 19. Republicans will use the results to elect half of their national delegates, but Democrats view the primary as a nonbinding popularity contest.

Delegates were also at stake Saturday in the Louisiana primary, Democratic caucuses in Nebraska and the Virgin Islands, and Republican contests in Kansas and Guam.

Picking the president: The candidates Click to visit that candidate's MSNBC page or click the XML symbol for an RSS feed. John McCain                Barack Obama

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