Caucusing In Paradise

Kathy Frankovic, director of surveys for CBS News provides a first-hand glimpse at how the presidential race has yet to reach a fevered pitch in laid-back Hawaii, a state holding caucuses tomorrow:

Hilo, Hawaii -- Last week, the state of Maryland had to keep its polls open to account for a snowstorm that created traffic gridlock. Last week, it rained on much of Hawaii, but the weather will be different for Tuesday’s caucuses. The only snow is on top of the volcanic mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It’s February on the Big Island.

The Big Island of Hawaii boasts the state’s second largest city – but Hilo’s 40,000 or so population is dwarfed by Honolulu’s more than 300,000.

There is campaigning – radio ads from Hawaii’s native son Barack Obama – and the ads end by reminding listeners that all (or at least most) politics is local: “Barack Obama is Hawaii's chance to elect a native son president.” They begin with Obama himself: "Almost 50 years ago, my family came to Hawaii in search of a better life. I was born here, and grew up here. This beautiful state and its great people hold a special place in my heart.”

There are the usual political divisions here: the Hawaii Government Employees Association’s parent union AFSCME, has endorsed Clinton. Chelsea Clinton is in Honolulu (where in Hawaiian tradition she was festooned with leis at the opening of a community health center clinic), will work a phone bank at the union, and will then travel to Maui. Obama’s half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Eng, lives in Honolulu, and has been campaigning for Obama.

But the politics of the caucus hasn’t quite reached most of Hilo. Three days before another in a series of critical delegate selection events, there are no yard signs, no campaign headquarters, no campaign presence at the Mall or at Saturday’s downtown farmer’s market, or at the celebration of the Chinese New Year. There, children competing in the costume contest are described, as Obama might have been when he was a boy, by their own mostly diverse ethnic backgrounds. For example, one contestant was described as Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino and German.

Despite the apparent lack of typical politicking, turnout is expected to be high. The party is encouraging participation, taking out newspaper ads with caucus locations, reminding voters they can register as a Democrat at a caucus. There won’t be any gathering in corners, as in Iowa, Nevada and most other caucuses. Voters will fill out a secret ballot – and there is 30 minutes set aside to do this. Candidates who meet the threshold of 15% in the tally will get delegates. It’s as simple as that.

On Tuesday, there will be 79 caucus sites in the entire state. They are in private houses, community centers and schools. Nearly half are on Oahu, the most populated island, with most in the state capital Honolulu. There are 21 on the Big Island, the largest island geographically. The isolated town of Kalaupapa on Molokai was the site of Father Damien’s former settlement where people with Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) were exiled until the mid-20th century. There are fewer than 40 residents who have chosen to remain there today. But if they want to caucus, there will be a convenient location for them, too.