Political relevance does not come around often for Washington state's distinctive mix of constituencies: loggers, bloggers, farmers and philanthropists. So this Saturday, when presidential caucuses will be held statewide, people plan to make the most of it.
Turnout is expected to be huge, regardless of the usual February forecast for much of the state: rain.
"The phones have been ringing off the hook," and many of the calls have been from first-time caucus-goers, said Dan Ogden, an organizer for county Democrats.
Months ago, the Washington caucuses looked like an arcane exercise for political insiders. But with the Democratic race neck and neck, Saturday's contests in Washington, Louisiana, Kansas and Nebraska have taken on added importance.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has been endorsed by Washington's Democratic senators, but Barack Obama has appeared to stake more on the Evergreen State.
A strategy memo inadvertently released by the Obama campaign listed it as one of the states it expects to capture, according to Bloomberg News. Also, Clinton strategists did not highlight the state in a conference call with reporters this week, instead focusing on future contests.
Playing in Obama's favor: He has outpaced Clinton in states with a caucus, which tend to attract more politically active voters.
The state's Republicans will split their delegates between caucuses Saturday and a primary Feb. 19.
