BELOIT — Barack Obama’s margin of victory in Wisconsin’s presidential primary Tuesday surprised some local political observers, as did a voter turnout that exceeded 43 percent in Rock County.

Obama, the Illinois senator who campaigned in Beloit Monday, rolled over Clinton by 17 percentage points, and emerged from what many expected to be a close race as the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

“The demographics favored Hillary here, (but) I think Barack did better than expected,” said political science lecturer Frederick Appah of the University of Wisconsin-Rock County.

In the Republican primary, John McCain easily defeated Mike Huckabee (see related graphics), and is now on the verge of clinching the Republican nomination. McCain easily carried Rock County, as did Obama.

Voter turnout surprised some Stateline-area clerks who said fewer than 30 percent of registered voters typically cast ballots in primary elections.

“For a presidential preference, this is the highest turnout (in memory),” Beloit City Clerk Carol Alexander said Tuesday night before votes were even counted.

Some 42 percent of the city’s registered voters cast ballots Tuesday, compared to 24 percent in the 2004 presidential primary. Alexander, who stayed in contact with all of Beloit’s precincts throughout the day, said that even historically slow polling places like Wright Elementary School bustled with activity.

“They usually don’t get very busy, and they were very excited,” she said.

B.J. Campbell, who has worked at the Wright polling station for 14 years, agreed.

“Our primaries are usually so quiet that we call them ‘pizza primaries,’” she said, explaining that in years past, poll workers often had time to order pizza and socialize.

Not so this year.

“As poll workers, we’re thrilled at the turnout,” Campbell said. “It was almost like a light presidential (election).”

Another unusual aspect of the election was the large number of same-day voter registrations.

“We don’t usually get registrations at primaries,” Campbell said.

Obama-Clinton effect
Officials attributed local turnout, in part, to excitement generated by visits to Beloit Monday by Obama and Clinton’s daughter Chelsea Clinton.

“I think people are realizing their voice counts,” said Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler, who was overseeing her first countywide election.

Some 3,000 people turned out to see Obama at Beloit College’s Flood Arena, while several hundred people showed up to see Clinton at Pearsons Hall.

“I think with the students being excited — with the visits yesterday — that has an effect (on turnout),” Alexander said.

Beloit College political science professor Ann Davies agreed.

“I think a lot of students were gong to vote anyway,” Davies said, “but I think they shot out of (the Obama rally) like, ‘Yeah!’”

Lines for registration snaked through the hallways and stairwells of First Congregational Church, which is a polling place for students. In the afternoon, some students waited more than an hour to vote.

“It was a good hour — it was pretty festive in there,” said sophomore Matt Lindsay of Elmhurst, Ill.

Alexander said that a large number of people in their 20s — some of them first-time voters — showed up at the polls Tuesday.

In Orfordville, a number of same-day registrations also made for a busy election.

“It was more than I expected,” said Sherri Waege, the village clerk. “We do get that for a presidential election, but for a primary, I was surprised.”

In Clinton, Village Clerk Philip Rath described turnout as “steady.”

“I’ve been in and out to check on them all day, and there are always one or two in there,” he said Tuesday night.

As she placed her ballot in the vote scanner in Clinton, Amber Schimke said it’s important to participate in elections, even in a primary.

“Your voice needs to be heard, no matter when it is,” she said.

Crosssing over
Numerous independents and Republicans likely voted in the Democratic primary, which was more hotly contested than the GOP race. However, Appah said it’s unlikely that large numbers of crossover voters intended to be mischievous, say, by voting for Clinton because they believe she’d be easier to defeat in the general election.

“I think people voted for who they wanted to win,” Appah said. “If you’re a McCain fan, you’re not going to vote for Hillary and expect McCain to win. Having said that, there is no doubt that Republicans and independents voted Democratic (in Tuesday’s primary) because it’s a closer race.

“People are interested in voting when there’s a competition.”

Mark Jefferson, executive director of Republican Party of Wisconsin, said the mischief-makers likely canceled each other out.

“You hear anecdotes and stories about people who voted for Hillary Clinton because they want to go against her, but there were probably some Republicans who voted for Obama because they wanted to see Hillary out sooner rather than later,” Jefferson said.

JR Ross, editor of Wispolitics.com, a Web site devoted to political news and commentary in the Badger state, said it’s no secret why Obama won big here.

“He outworked her here,” Ross said, noting that Obama out-polled Clinton in virtually every demographic group.

Looking ahead
With the primary behind them, Stateline officials will prepare for another large turnout for the November general election.

Recalling the 1992 presidential race, Campbell said, “We may have that big of an election (this year), in terms of numbers, if this is any indication. And ’92 was a record year for turnout.”

Stottler, meanwhile, is “tickled pink” that so many people cast ballots in Rock County.

“This is one of the greatest privileges you can have as an American,” she said.