Big turnouts, Kerry support mark caucuses across state

By Seattle Times news services

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From Yakima's apple country to the Columbia River, the pattern was the same: big turnouts, and a big day for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

At Yakima's Wesley Methodist Church, which is next to an apple orchard in this largely Republican and rural region, 200 usually scarce Democrats packed the fellowship hall, one of 10 caucuses around Yakima County. Just a dozen turned out at the fellowship hall for the 2002 caucus.

"People would say to me, 'Where are the Democrats?' " Corky Mattingly, Yakima County auditor, told the crowd. "Well, here you are. I knew you were out there."

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Kerry was beating Dean 58 percent to 23 percent in the 4th Congressional District, where Yakima is, though Yakima County returns weren't available yet last night.

"Reluctantly, I'm for Kerry now," said Vicky Whiteman, 63, a retired counselor who had been in the small but vocal Kucinich camp.

While retirees and party faithful dominated the church hall, organizers said they saw a noticeable turnout of voters under 30.

Oscar Baechler, 18, a student at West Valley High School, recently registered to vote. He's for Kerry. "I think Dean scares away swing voters," he said.

In Longview, Cowlitz County, a last-minute effort by Dean partisans at a union hall left the caucus room plastered with Dean posters, but the voters leaned heavily toward Kerry.

"He's sort of presidential-looking and -talking, and that makes a difference," said Donna De Jarnatt, 77, of Longview. Kerry was beating Dean 60 percent to 21 percent in the county with most precincts reporting.

Steve Galford watched with satisfaction as his Longview precinct went to Kerry. "I just had my paper mill get shut down," said Galford, 49. "It tends to motivate you politically."
 
Elsewhere, Kerry was on his way to beating Dean 50 percent to 30 percent in Spokane County.

Information from Leah Ward of the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Associated Press is included in this report.

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