Before I left for the Idaho caucus, I remember tuning in to Fox and feeling mortified. They were covering the caucus the same way they were covering the Superbowl. “Watch as the Patriots go head to head with the Giants Sunday, then tune in Tuesday as politicians battle it out. Who will be the top contender… you decide!”

Trailing into the screen were Obama and Clinton’s photos, making a clashing sound in the middle. I remember anxiously trying to shake visions of people showing up with beer and body paint to caucus.

However, (thankfully) I’ve never had a fuller sense of democracy in action. The energy at North Idaho College was damn near electrifying. I couldn’t find any trace of low voter efficacy; everyone knew or felt that their voice mattered.

In Sammamish, I noticed the same energy but an even greater sense of community. Most of the precinct people lived within two to three blocks of each other. At first I mistook the cordiality as a lack of passion, but when I talked with people one-on-one they recognized how important it was to be there. I also knew how important it was that I was there too.

It’s a struggle to put into words how this experience has felt; especially as a Journalism major. I can think about how fast-paced it was, how it was difficult to find a focus, how this is something you can only learn by experience, etc. It runs deeper than that though. It’s almost as if the success of this website or this group is becoming more important than individual success. I’ve never felt that in a classroom environment before.

The Area Caucus Chair at Pacific Cascade needs to be thanked repeatedly. Our coverage would have suffered if Hank Thomas hadn’t agreed to let us follow him around. His sense of party pride was contagious and I’ll never forget him saying, “Let everyone give speeches! We’re Democrats, we do whatever we want!” Devon and I followed up with photos, video and live reports; the most new media experience I’ve ever had. I think if in the near future, this is the direction journalism is taking us, I would be happy to follow.