MN: Historic Turnout

By Christopher Lee
Voting in Minnesota's Democratic caucuses closed at 9 p.m. EST, and initial indications pointed toward a record turnout.

"The turnout is historic," said Kelly Schwinghammer, a state party spokeswoman. "I'd venture to say we've probably never seen anything like this. So it may be a while before we have results."

So many people took part that parking was difficult in some locations, she said. People who were still lining up to vote at 9 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballots.

Andy Barr, spokesman for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, said that at his precinct in downtown Minneapolis, the turnout was triple that of 2004.

State party officials had predicted 70,000 to 100,000 voters at the caucuses today, far more than the 56,000 who turned out in 2004. For the first time, the caucuses were on Super Tuesday instead of in early March, which may have helped boost voter interest.