Sanders torches Clinton in Kootenai caucus
<p>Jeanette Morris, stands up to show her support for democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Tuesday at the democratic caucus held at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>April Winters, center left, sits next to Tracey Sutton as they cheer to support democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday at the democratic caucus held at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Rose, center, and Nancy Burtard cheer and show their support for democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Tuesday at the democratic caucus held at North Idaho College.</p>
<p>Kristy Johnson holds up ballots as she collects them from democrats casting their votes for their preferred presidential candidate on Tuesday at the Democratic caucus held at North Idaho College. About 1,150 people showed up to caucus.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Local Democrats felt the Bern on Tuesday night.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the leading Democratic presidential candidate vote-getter during packed Kootenai County caucuses at North Idaho College and the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
With a total of 2,056 votes cast during the final tally at both sites — more than the previous two Democratic caucuses combined — Sanders received 76 percent (1,561) of the votes. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received 24 percent (493) of the votes.
"I think Bernie does a better job of representing all the people and he has integrity," said Coeur d'Alene's Robert Brady. "I like his positions on the economy and universal health care and the fact that he voted against ridiculous wars we found ourselves in."
With the percentage of votes, Sanders earned 27 local delegates to the June 16-19 state convention in Boise while Clinton earned eight. The Idaho Democratic Party will send 24 delegates and two alternates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia July 26-29 to nominate the Democratic candidate for president.
A combined 2,140 people participated in the local caucus on Tuesday.
Local and statewide Republicans picked their presidential choice for November's general election through a primary on March 8 when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the leading vote-getter on both fronts.
Brady said he participated for the first time in a caucus because he thought it would help separate Sanders and Clinton in Kootenai County.
Athol's Connie Mock said she has been supporting Clinton since she ran for president before. And Mock wasn't changing her mind on Tuesday. Like many Clinton supporters, Mock touted the candidate's political experience, which includes being senator, secretary of state and first lady.
"She's got great ideas to set us forward, not pull us down," said Mock, who participated in her first caucus. "I want her in there because she's a great candidate."
Post Falls' Leon Crandell said the country needs a "reset" in the political system and that's why he supports Sanders.
"Hillary gives us the same," Crandell said. "I'm here for my grandkids and their future."
Roughly 90 percent of those who participated at NIC indicated that they participated in their first caucus.
Post Falls' Bruce Redman was also among them.
"I'm really impressed with this crowd," he said. "It's an important election to get involved with."
About 1,300 people participated in the Democratic Caucus in Kootenai County in 2008 when President Barack Obama took nearly 81 percent of the vote. In 2012, when Obama ran unopposed, the number dropped to 150.
The fairgrounds was added as a second caucus location last week due to an expected overflow crowd. Similar arrangements were made in some other counties across the state.
Redman didn't realize at first that his son, Julian, was participating in the caucus at the fairgrounds, but the two texted each other during the events.
Redman was among the Sanders supporters.
"I think he's honest and his ideas are more progressive and about where this country wants to go," he said.
Redman attended Sanders' rally in Spokane on Sunday night and believes the enthusiasm from that event, which attracted about 10,000, carried over across the border.
"The rally played a part of it for me," he said. "I went and decided, 'Yeah, I need to speak up for him. That's what really locked me in with him."
The two other choices on the ballot — uncommitted and California businessman Rocky De La Fuente — each received one vote.
When it was announced just before 9 p.m. that a third count at the caucuses was not necessary, most participants left before delegates were chosen.
The caucus at NIC had plenty of light moments, including when NIC student Tanner Brereton spoke on behalf of those undecided.
"I'm here to see people who support the candidates," he said, adding that he attended the Sanders rally in Spokane and asked people why they support him.
"It occurred to me how many people were voting without knowing what's going on," he said, drawing some boos from the Sanders crowd.
But, on the other hand, turning to Clinton, he has never seen someone who breaks rules more than she.
Tamara Poelstra, who had just stumped for Clinton, rolled up her sleeves at Brereton on stage.
"I'm not afraid," he told her jokingly. "That almost makes me single-handedly not to want to vote for Clinton."
There were a few other moments that kept things interesting. At one point, Paula Neils, chairwoman of the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee, needed to remind participants to avoid vocal outbursts when others spoke for a candidate they opposed.
During a moment indicative of the high turnout, participants were asked to disconnect from NIC's wi-fi because so many were connected and it was interfering with organizers' ability to access programs to tally votes.
The most flamboyant stump speaker who drew the biggest reaction was Jeremiah Brunelle, who supports Sanders.
"Bernie cannot be bought," he said enthusiastically. "Bernie is not for sale. Bernie is winning over young voters because he understands what is currently not working for us. We need a political revolution."