Jan. 25, 2000

Democratic results show Gore
with commanding victory

By Mary Gustafson
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Hotel Ft. Des Moines, home of the Democratic Party headquarters for the Iowa caucuses, was the scene of political frenzy as the results began to show Vice President Al Gore victorious, as more and more Monday precincts reported him as the winner.

With 97.89 percent of the precincts reporting and the last announcements of the evening, Gore had 63.43 percent of the vote and former Sen. Bill Bradley 34.91 percent.

With these results, party officials said tabulations were based on record turnouts of caucus participants at various precincts such as one at Hotel Ft. Des Moines and precincts in West Des Moines.

As percentages of votes were reported to party headquarters, an official announcement was made on the results to the individuals gathered at the hotel. After the announcement, results immediately were posted on a full-color, super-sized screen for easy access to reporters, video cameras, other members of the media and party officials.

After the initial results were reported, Bradley and Gore returned to their individual headquarters for the evening for interviews and rallies. Bradley's headquarters remained at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines, and Gore's entourage made its way to the Iowa state fairgrounds.

At the fairgrounds, Gore and his campaign supporters celebrated their sizable margin of victory. Gore, his wife and his daughter met the crowd of supporters, campaign workers and members of the media. Gore shook hands and high-fived members of the audience surrounding his platform.

"Gore came out wild," said Jennifer Dorris, who was covering the Gore side of the caucuses for the Knotmag online magazine. "He was going crazy, waving his arms and yelling," Dorris said. "He was more dynamic and charismatic than I've ever seen him on past television appearances."

Gore announced that he had "not yet begun to fight" and remained confident of his chances in the primary in New Hampshire.

While Secret Service guards kept the crowd more at length from the vice president at his rally, Bradley supporters packed a crowded room at the Hotel Ft. Des Moines. Bradley's results from the caucus were seen as a victory by members of his campaign. In a final poll on the day of the caucus, the Des Moines Register had shown Bradley with 28 percent--lower than his actual final showing in the caucus.

At Bradley's post-caucus rally, he remained optimistic but admittedly humbled. Off and on, while waiting for Bradley to arrive at the rally, Bradley's students supporters stirred his crowd into eruptions of cheers and chants.