GOP spirits still high despite long lines, suspension of rules

Virginia Daley doesn't consider herself an early riser.

The Chicago native and "longtime" Carsonite was clad in a pink turtleneck and gray slacks and couldn't help but smile and wave when she entered the Carson City Senior Citizens Center just before 9 a.m.

She was the first in line to cast her caucus vote Saturday morning.

"I was here at 6 a.m.," she said. "You bet I wanted to make sure I got my voice heard."

Despite standing in the "cold and dark" for more than two hours, Daley said she "couldn't wait to be a part of the caucus - no matter what the conditions."

"I think everyone here is just happy to be a part of this," she said. "For a lot of us - this is a first. For a lot of us, this is the chance for the nation to hear us.

"Go Nevada."

Nevada Republicans went - in numbers, 44,000 statewide, that were overwhelming, Republican officials said.

Shortly after Daley crossed the center's threshold, volunteer organizers discovered the voters far outnumbered the capacity of the dining area.

As a result, instead of conducting the voting in true caucus format by asking voters to align behind a specific candidate with the majority winners eventually swallowing up the also-rans to end at a precinct vote, those casting ballots were simply told to mark a ballot and turn it in.

"The total number of votes cast was close to 1,000," said John Wagner, caucus chairman and Republican central committee chairman in the wake of Saturday morning's vote.

"We had much more than that standing in line. A lot of people may have left, they just got so fed up and were gone - four years from now, I'm sure they'll be some changes, I'll be screaming my head off at the state level."

That the caucus system was abandoned in Carson City did not preclude the city's Republican vote from reflecting statewide results. Mitt Romney won by a wide margin, with libertarian candidate Ron Paul, who visited the city last week and campaigned extensively in Northern Nevada, finishing second. John McCain finished third locally and statewide.

Carson Republican Frank Steinberg was one of the few veteran caucusers casting his vote Saturday morning, and though he did not expect the sheer number of voters or the format changes, he said the modified caucus system was OK.

"Have I been here before? Yes," he said. "But I've never seen anything like this before."

Steinberg gestured toward the center's entry where voters elbowed one another to jockey for a ballot.

It was shortly after 10 a.m.

"The line kept growing," Wagner said. "You know, you got everyone asking questions at the same time - blaming you. The decisions we made to (switch) the format was strictly on the fly. We couldn't wait and do the precinct tally and the fire marshal would only allow 320 in the room. You have to adapt and improvise.

"The state party may not like it, but that's the way it goes."

In spite of the chaos going on inside, the spirits of most voters remained high outside the center even with the cold and lack of coffee or food to keep early risers happy.

"I'm fine out here, we're bundled up and having fun - this is a great turnout," said Stephanie Williams, of Carson City. "I think people understand that in order to take part in the process, you have to make a little sacrifice.

Friendly chatter between Republican allies, along with the occasional colorful repartee from dissidents, was a prevalent theme in the long-reaching line.

Then there was a healthy helping of blowing on the hands and shifting from foot to foot to stay warm.

The climate indoors was sometimes more chilly than outside.

Voters, confused at what should be done once inside, were eventually siphoned to one of three lines where they were checked in according to precinct.

It was the lack of space that irked some; others made comments that the Democrats had many locations and "no lines" in town.

"It's true, the Democrats took every single public building available to use," Wagner said. "Next time we're going to be more prepared. We did our best - we really wanted to avoid disenfranchising anything or anyone."

Not all voters simply cast a vote and exited.

A handful of precinct representatives sat in clusters around designated tables. Many helped gather and tally votes, while others simply stuck around to chat.

"I think it's a positive thing that so many people turned out," said Carson resident Shellie Shannon as she sat talking to another caucus-goer. "I don't think anyone expected this kind of turnout. So, all things considered - I think it's good the way this is going," she said of Saturday's caucus. "I think people are enthusiastic here.

"I think people felt like they were counted. I think it's a time when some kind of change for this country and the fact that people came out on a cold morning proves they're ready for it."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.