SEATTLE (AP) — No surprises here: Washington state Democrats have expressed their support for President Barack Obama at the party’s precinct caucuses.
Party spokesman Benton Strong says turnout was light, as expected for a year when the Democrats have a sitting president unchallenged for the nomination as he seeks reelection. Many of those who attended the caucuses Sunday were seeking to influence the party’s platform or become a delegate.
The scene was vastly different from four years ago, when 250,000 Democrats gathered at the party caucuses in 2008, ultimately choosing Obama over Hillary Clinton.
The precinct caucuses are the first step in the process of choosing 105 of the state’s 121 delegates to the Democratic National Convention, to be held in September in Charlotte, N.C. Elected officials and party leaders will account for the other 16 delegates.
