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Politics & Government

Super Saturday for Romney: Victory Declared in Washington State Caucus

Lakewood voters show strong support for presidential hopeful during caucus at Lakes High School.

Updated 10:40 a.m.: Final numbers released from the Washington State Caucus.

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Their belief was clear: Change can start in a high-school cafeteria.

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Waving banners, wearing stickers and brandishing voter-registration cards, more than 550 constituents of the 28th Legislative District turned out Saturday morning to make their voices heard at the Republican caucus at Lakes High School.

And by Saturday evening, it was apparent that their voices were calling for Mitt Romney as the next president of the United States.

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Romney declared victory after several news reports projected him to win the straw poll in the Washington State Caucus. He was able to hold onto a lead in early results, finishing with 37.65 percent of the vote.

Ron Paul earned 24.81 percent of votes, and Rick Santorum, 23.81 percent.

While the straw-poll results were not binding, they indicate the preferences of the participants in the caucus, and “it would be fair” to expect that the numbers reflect how the delegates will vote in the upcoming district, county and state caucuses, said Washington State Republican Chairman Kirby Wilbur.

In a prepared statement, Romney signaled that he is looking forward to the campaign in the fall:

“The voters of Washington have sent a signal that they do not want a Washington insider in the White House. They want a conservative businessman who understands the private sector and knows how to get the federal government out of the way so that the economy can once again grow vigorously.”

In Lakewood, support was strong for the former Massachusetts governor.

“He’s a man of integrity,” said Linda Stevens, who expressed a strong desire to help Romney get elected. “I think he can beat Obama, and turn the economy around.”

Geoff Smock, who, like Stevens, was selected as a delegate to the county convention, said Romney appeals to a wide audience.

“He has the experience in both the private sector and as a governor and chief executive,” he said. “He’s problem solver.”

Though final numbers were not in, state Republicans were expecting a turnout of about 50,000 participants in the caucus, Wilbur said.

According to Wilbur, the turnout for the caucus heavily exceeded 2008 numbers, which brought in just under 14,000 participants. He said that bodes well for Republicans in the fall – but not the Democrats.

“Give me 50,000 volunteers any time,” he said.

More attention has been put on the Washington state caucus than in past years, because of the hotly contested GOP presidential nomination process. Though Romney has been widely considered the front-runner, Santorum has won four of the 11 state contests so far, with Romney taking six states and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich taking one state.

Republicans gathered in community centers and schools all over the state Saturday morning for the precinct caucuses, which had people lining up out the doors at some locations with much higher turnout than in previous years. The Puget Sound Patch sites covered the caucuses live, which you can read .

Bob Brown, chairman of the 28th District caucus, said that he was thrilled by the unexpected turnout. Organizers had anticipated about 400 attendees; about 550 showed up and were still filing into the Lakes cafeteria a half-hour past the scheduled start time.

“I’m pleased, especially for the young people,” Brown said. “The Republican Party needs to be younger and show color in the party.”

Among those young people was a group of nattily dressed Lakes students who wanted to witness democracy in action.

“It’s one thing to read it in a book, and another to see it,” said Paul Getchell, who explained that they are all taking Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics.

His classmate, Izaic Yorks, felt similarly.

“We wanted to see a real caucus,” he said. “It’s a good experience.”

Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson said that the number of first-timers was surprising. About two-thirds in attendance had never attended a caucus.

“It’s an outstanding turnout,” he said. “It shows that there is a lot of involvement. Lakewood is a very politically active community.”

Stan Flemming, who is running for Congress in the newly created 10th District, said that it is a good time to be a member of the Republican Party.

“We don’t need change; we need a new direction for this country,” Flemming said. “America deserves good leadership and we need leaders who have passion, who have knowledge, who have commitment and who espouse the issues we have as Americans.”

State Sen. Mike Carrell said he was “highly encouraged” that things are headed in that direction.

“Basically,” he said, gesturing at the energized crowd, “these people are fed up with the state government and the federal government.”

Still, Carrell, who is up for reelection this fall, said that while he won the historically balanced 28th District with 56 percent of the vote in 2008 – “in this district, that’s close to a landslide,” – he never presumes anything.

“I have to go out and earn their votes,” he said. “And I will.”

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