Caucus locations bursting at seams

Iowa Precinct
More than 30 minutes after the Iowa caucuses were set to begin, many Democratic caucus-goers were still waiting to get into crowded precincts, such as one site in Ankeny, Iowa. (Max Greenwood/MEDILL)

By Steve Musal

ANKENY, Iowa — Two reporters walk into a caucus room and are immediately asked to leave. In most cases that might be a sign of a failing democracy, but the reverse was true in Iowa tonight: There simply wasn’t any room for us. The place was packed wall-to-wall with Democratic caucus-goers.

It’s just one moment in one precinct, but we’re hearing similar stories from other caucus locations on both sides. That could be good news for Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, but with only an hour since the caucuses began, it’s still anyone’s game at this point.

More than 30 minutes after the Iowa caucuses were set to begin, many Democratic caucus-goers were still waiting to get into crowded precincts, such as one site in Ankeny, Iowa. (Max Greenwood/Medill)