I'm here observing the caucus of Des Moines precinct 23, which covers the same neighborhood I I'm here observing the caucus of Des Moines precinct 23, which covers the same neighborhood I reported on when I went door to door with Edwards canvassers. The doors will close in about 8 minutes, and so far, it looks like Hillary is slightly leading Obama and Edwards, with a heavily elderly, female group of caucus-goers. In total, there are about 100 people here. For Des Moines, this is a diverse group. Obama has about half a dozen African American supporters here so far, but there are people of color represented among all three leading candidate groups. I was asked by the precinct captain to sit at the very front of this junior high auditorium to distinguish myself from the voters. But because of that, people keep approaching me to ask questions. One first time caucus-goer, a middle-aged woman wearing an Obama sticker, asked me where the voting booths were. When I told her she would be physically counted and should sit under the Obama sign, she left, and she hasn't come back. A man in his 50s was looking around for Kucinich supporters a few minutes ago. He's still sitting alone. What else is happening right now? Edwards organizers are combing the room looking for Biden, Richardson, and Dodd people to convince to come to their camp for their second choice. --Dana Goldstein
