Hawaiians Flood Polls for Obama
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Posted February 20, 2008
HONOLULU — Across the city last night, most Hawaiians said they had never seen anything like it. Supporters of Sen. Barack Obama crowded into school auditoriums with lines that snaked around the buildings. Precincts couldn't keep registration forms in stock. "We ran out of democratic registration forms four times," said Manny Quinones, 30, one precinct leader. State caucus leaders were expecting 10,000 to 12,000 voters—and got as many as 20,000. Late into the night, voters were still standing in line.
"The last time I experienced anything close to this was the first state election, when voter turnout was 85 percent," Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, a Hillary Clinton supporter, told U.S. News. That was the year Hawaii gained its statehood, in 1959. Last night, Inouye stood in line for one hour and 45 minutes. It was the first time in 40 years that he returned from Washington for the caucuses. (Click here for remainder of article).