Approximately two hundred Sen. Barack Obama supporters gathered Wednesday evening at Career High School in New Haven, CT to elect delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Candidates for National Delegate needed to apply with the Secretary of States office by February 19th. These names were then provided to the Obama campaign for approval.

Twenty-four names were provided, twelve women and twelve men. Of these, the caucus could select two male delegates, two female delegates and one male alternate. The campaign provided it’s endorsed delegate slate.

Promptly at 7:30, Susan Voigt, chair of the New Haven Democratic Party, acting as temporary caucus chair called the meeting to order. She appointed a temporary secretary who read the call of caucus notice. Then, they elected a permanent chair. Ms. Voigt was the only person nominated to be permanent chair and was elected by acclaim. The temporary secretary was then elected to be permanent secretary.

Pledge of Allegiance was said, the rules were adopted and nominations were heard. The only candidates for male and female delegates presented were the official slate of the campaign, Mayor John DeStefano and Senator Martin Looney for the male delegates and State Representative Toni Walker and Obama 3rd CD Coordinator Jen Just for the female delegates. State Senator Ed Meyer nominated Sen. Looney. Yet the greatest applause went to the nomination speech for Jen Just. “When we talk about grassroots organizing, we talk about Jen Just.” Nominations were closed and the four delegates were elected.

The alternate delegate position saw the only drama of the evening. Allen Page was nominated for alternate delegate before the nomination for Jerry Weiner was made. After Jerry’s nomination, there was an attempt to nominate Jan Walker, but it was pointed out that the candidates needed to be male. With two candidates, there was a vote. It was a secret written ballot. Ballots were collected, the votes were counted and Jerry won the nomination as Alternate.

The delegates made their speeches and Jen Just got the final word, as well as the loudest applause. She spoke about how exciting it is to be part of something so big and acknowledged that the campaign, in and of itself, has been a big step forward for our country.

With the caucus over, many attendees hung out and chatted with old friends. Old New Haven political operatives mingled with folks from the New Haven Democracy for America group, people who had worked on Ned Lamont’s campaign and assorted bloggers from My Left Nutmeg. Jen Just commented about how four years ago, she never would have expected to end up becoming a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. For many attendees of the caucus, the past four years have been exciting, and the excitement leading up to the general election is great.