Today at 3:00 p.m., throughout California, Democrats met in caucus to select delegates to the National Convention in Denver. Here is my report, as a candidate, about one caucus in very red Orange County.
It is a hot Sunday afternoon, well into the nineties. I drive to Tustin to attend the Obama caucus in the California 48 congressional District. My wife drives separately, and calls me on the phone. "I am here," she says, "the place is definitely political – Obama signs are up."
For days I have sent out email encouraging Democrats in the district to attend the caucus and vote for me as an Obama delegate to the convention. As I enter the parking lot of the B'nai Israel synagogue where the caucus is convening, I can't believe my eyes. People were scrambling for parking places in the near full parking lot. The excitement is palpable.
This is quite a change from four years ago. I attended a candidate caucus with only nine other people in 2004.
I approach the synagogue and find the politicking is furiously underway. People are in front of the entrance handing out flyers, shaking hands, and back slapping. I talk to everyone as I enter. I sign in, and pick up my ballot.
Of course I am last on the ballot - my name is Young. There are 31 on the ballot, the number having reduced from 33 by two who withdrew to work for the Obama campaign to run the caucus.
Democratic energy exudes from the hall as I enter. Approximately 15 large circular tables are set up in the hall, with people sitting around all of them. The room is filled with people, noise and anticipation. Attendance at the caucus exceeds 250 people.
I circulate, greeting everyone while trying to remember names. Fortunately, everyone understands, and are happy to talk about their issues.
After about an hour of mingling, Giovanni convenes the meeting and asks all candidates for delegate slots to sit at a large line of tables in the front of the room. Each is given one minute to talk and ask for support.
I speak last. I tell the audience, "The message of change is not a hollow rhetoric, but a call to work. Without work, nothing happens, only inertia." I tell the group that in the California 48th District, I have been working for 2 and 1/2 years to organize precincts with volunteer outreach and grassroots organizing. At the end of my minute, I thank the audience, ask for their vote, and sit down.
The final votes are cast, and everyone waits for the results.
The announcement comes: Davida Hopkins-Parham, wins the "female" delegate's seat. I win the caucus vote . . . I'M GOING TO DENVER FOR OBAMA!!!