NAPAVINE -

According to banners hanging from every streetlight in town, Napavine is Tiger Country. But Saturday afternoon the local high school gymnasium, where the Tigers play basketball [img_assist|nid=1112|title=Delegates seek support at Napavine High School/Politicker Photo|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=175|height=145]every winter, was also home to the 3rd Congressional District Democratic caucus. At the caucus, five delegates, two males and three females, would be elected to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer to elect the party's nominee.

But he delegate contest was not the day's only vote. With the advent of the state's "top two" primary that effectively ends the Party primary system, the Democrats' official nominee for Congress was also decided at the caucus. Rep. Brian Baird, the five term congressman from Vancouver, won his party's nomination by a vote of 59 to 24 over fellow Democrat Cheryl Crist.

Crist, a peace activist from Olympia, is challenging Baird, as is Republican Michael Delavar. Many Democratic activists were unhappy with Baird's decision a few years ago to support President Bush's Iraq "surge" strategy, but not enough to deny him the party's official nomination.

Many of those in attendance at the caucus were long time party activists and passionate supporters of their candidate of choice, having participated in precinct and Legislative District caucuses earlier in the year and winning the right to advance to the CD level.

Supporters of Barack Obama were particularly passionate, especially those running to move on to the national convention.

Debbie Pattin of Olympia was one of those running as a national delegate. She helped to start the Draft Obama campaign in 2005, and later aided in the creation of the official Grassroots for Obama in December 2006 when he launched his exploratory committee. Since then he has traveled the state advocating on his behalf.

She first heard the Illinois Senator speak at the Democratic convention in Boston in 2004. "I had, like, this out of body experience and from that moment I thought, ‘he has to be our next President,'" Pattin said.

Vancouver's Julie Mayfield also ran for national delegate. She worked the room all day wearing an apron covered in different Obama buttons. A newcomer to delegate staus, she has always caucused, but only in 2008 was she motivated enough to participate more fully, saying she was inspired by Obama's idealism.

"He is a cross between FDR and JFK," Mayfield said, referencing two of the most famous Democratic Presidents in history.

Bill Allman of Vancouver was equally enthusiastic. His nephew was critically injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. "It really is what prompted me to get involved again with renewed energy because I really believe," he said of Obama.

Allman, a Vietnam veteran who himself helped to establish the Veteran's Benefit Enhancement Project here in Washington, cited a laundry list of legislation that Obama had his hand in creating on behalf of veterans. It was those policy reasons that drew him to Obama last year and because, "when I heard him speak it was profound to me," especially when Obama said in a speech that, "we are who we have been waiting for."

Clinton supporters, though mixed about her chances at the nomination, were equally as proud to support their candidate.

Ann Warren of Camas was running for national delegate. She entered into politics through the avenue of media reform, working for a long time at a local public access network. Asked if she was excited about Hillary's campaign, Warren was shocked that such a question would even be asked.

"About Hillary," she said with a slightly dropped jaw, "are you kidding?"

Warren continued to explain that just over a year ago she "literally just woke up in the night and said, if she runs, I'm going to support her."

Now, one step before the national convention, she remained true to her word.

Vancouver's Jim Martin wasn't running for national delegate, but was still happy to be at the caucus supporting Senator Clinton.

"Its $450 a night for the hotel room [at the national convention]!" he laughed when asked why he was calling it quits at the Congressional District level.

Though Martin was initially an Edwards supporter, the former North Carolina Senator's recent endorsement of Obama had no bearing on his decision. He made up his mind a week after Edwards dropped out on the strength of Clinton's health care plan, which he called equally as strong as Edwards.

He doesn't think Clinton has a chance, but for him it doesn't matter. This fall is about putting a Democrat in the White House.