The cafeteria at the Pacific Cascade ninth grade campus is packed full of people ready to caucus.

Hank Thomas, the area caucus coordinator, has just started explaining the caucus agenda to the crowd. He started off by saying he is grateful for George W. Bush because he has encouraged the Democrats to come out in full force to support candidates for change.

“George Bush is the best recruiter the Democratic party has ever had!” Hank exclaimed.

Several tables are labeled by precinct, but those tables filled up long ago - it is literally standing room only in the cafeteria.

I spoke with several eager voters before Hank began the caucus proceedings. Most told me they were caucusing for Sen. Barack Obama.

Doug and Tonya, a married couple in their 20’s, are caucusing for the first time today.

“The fact that he hasn’t spent much time in Washington is his greatest asset,” said Doug. Tonya added that she liked Obama’s stances on the economy, health care and Iraq.

The young couple also told me that they found their caucus location using a King County Web site because the “caucus finder” tools on Obama’s Web site and the Washington Democrats Web site have been overloaded in the past couple of days.

UW alum Ann Hunsberger (class of ‘76) is also caucusing for the first time today. She told me it was frustrating to realize that her primary votes haven’t counted.

Hunsberger initially had tentative support for Obama, but decided he was the right choice when she heard him speak.

“I started listening to him and realized how intelligent he is and what an incredible orator,” she said. Hunsberger also told me she likes “the fact that he holds promise and has vision.”

I immediately talked to the first person I saw wearing a Hillary Clinton t-shirt, as I had only encountered Obama supporters at first. Alicia Moneyhun proudly sported her Clinton gear and told me that she was the second person to ever buy a Hillary t-shirt when her campaign store first opened.

Moneyhun came with her mother, Cathy Jorg, who participated in on other caucus “30 or 40 years ago.” Jorg said the caucus was much smaller than this one.

“We were Republicans back then, but we’ve changed,” Jorg told me of her participation in that caucus. Her daughter gasped in horror as Jorg revealed her Republican past.

“I’m ashamed!” Moneyhun exclaimed.

Hank Thomas is currently answering questions from the caucus crowd as 1:30 approaches. A 17-year-old boy received a hearty round of applause when he raised his hand after Thomas asked if anyone who would turn 18 before the general election was caucusing.

More to come as the caucus continues!