State Representative Saundra Meyer talks to Grant Nash of Evanston who was showing his support for Senator Obama at Saturday’s Democratic convention held at the Elks Lodge. HERALD PHOTO/Amber Sawyer

Will Rogers once said, “I’m not a member of any organized political party, I’m a Democrat!” With several changes made in the past month for the Uinta County Democratic convention that was held on Saturday, one might assume the party is just as unorganized as when Will Rogers affiliated. The fact of the matter is the growing number of expected attendees forced the party to twice find a bigger location.

Data the Democratic Party obtained from the Wyoming Secretary of State indicated that between Jan. 10, 2008 and the registration deadline to vote at the local Democratic convention of Feb. 22, 2008, registered Democrats increased by more than 2,000 statewide.

Uinta County party chairwoman Sharon McPhie estimated there are now close to 1800 registered Democrats in Uinta County. While the initial count of eligible voters who registered at the convention was 172, 168 voted for their presidential preference.

“In the past, if we had 30 people it was a crowd,” McPhie said.

The Elks Lodge was filled with energy and excitement that some attendees said they had not seen before. The family-friendly meeting moved rather quickly once it began. Check-in was from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with an orange wristband given to those eligible to vote.

Five presidential candidates were registered in Wyoming: Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, John Edwards, Keith Judd, and Frank Lynch. When nominations for the presidential preference poll were made, only Obama and Clinton were nominated.

State representative Saundra Meyer spoke in favor of Senator Obama. Meyer addressed Obama’s level of experience, noting, “Barack Obama has the experience Lincoln had.”

“Hope is what we have with Barack Obama,” Meyer said.

Paul McFry also spoke in favor of Senator Obama, comparing Obama to President John F. Kennedy.

“He has character and ethics,” McFry said of Obama.

Sarah Blakeman spoke in favor of Senator Clinton. Blakeman said Clinton has specific solutions to problems Blakeman sees every day in her life and while working with local senior citizens.

All votes were conducted openly with no ballots used. Voters stood with their wristbands showing, and sat as they were counted.

Presidential preference poll results were 45 votes for Senator Clinton and 123 votes for Senator Obama. The revised 168-voter total was used to determine the number of delegates elected for the two candidates during the caucus portion of the meeting.

Uinta County has 11 delegates who will attend the state convention in May. Using percentages, Obama has eight delegates and three went to Clinton. The groups divided and selected delegates in the same manner as the presidential preference. Delegates had to be present to be elected.

Statewide there are 319 delegates. According to the Wyoming Democrats’ web site, Obama will have 187.5 delegates and Clinton will have 129.5 at the state convention in Jackson on Memorial Day weekend.