Gerald Lee Lewis of Le Mars waves a Barack Obama sign at his Democratic precinct site in the Le Mars Community School lunchroom. Obama won in Plymouth County, winning 38 percent of the delegates, earning the same winning percentage for Iowa. For the county, 1,135 people caucused for Democrats. [Click to enlarge]

With a buzz of voices filling the packed high school lunchroom, Democratic precinct worker Judy Wittkop stood on a chair to read a letter from the party to the people gathered to participate in the Iowa caucus on Thursday night.

"This evening we begin taking the first steps toward the election of the next president of the United States," she read. "We're all here to make a difference."

The statement rang true at both the Democratic and Republican caucus sites across Plymouth County where races among top candidates were very close, with record voter turnout numbers at all the precincts.

Cold temperatures didn't stop Le Mars republican voters from venturing out to vote. Almost 500 voters crowded the basement of Primebank to cast their ballots. [Click to enlarge]

On the Democrats' side, Illinois Senator Barack Obama -- who won the Iowa caucus for Democrats -- edged a lead in Plymouth County with about 38 percent of the votes, followed closely by Senator Hillary Clinton, who pulled about 35 percent.

On the Republicans' side, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney snagged a sizeable lead with 398 votes, 34 percent. Former Arkansas governor -- and Republican Iowa caucus winner -- Mike Huckabee garnered 289 votes for 25 percent in Plymouth County.

"It's just what I expected it to be," said Jon Neunaber, county Democratic chairman, commenting on the close finish. "It was just that close of a race between the top two, even three candidates."

Chris Jackson, 22, and Tyler Reiter, 21, register to vote at the Le Mars Democratic caucus site Thursday night with Eva Mouw helping them out. While four years ago, the percentage of caucus-goers between ages 18-24 was about four percent, Thursday night was about 13 percent. [Click to enlarge]

That excitement, he said, was a draw for people -- in Plymouth County 1,135 people attended the Democratic caucuses and 1,177 people attended the Republican caucuses.

Neunaber said it was more than double 2004's numbers and more than four times the turnout in 2000.

Don Kass, county Republican chairman called turnout "unprecedented."

Trying to snag a few more votes for Hillary Clinton at the Le Mars Precinct 11 Democratic caucus on Thursday, Karen Paulsen, Sally Smith and Cathy Van Maanen tried a few chants like "She's our girl! She's our girl!" [Click to enlarge]

"I would have never predicted we'd have nearly 1,200 people turn out," he said. "That's at least 500 more people than I can ever remember showing up for any other caucus. I think we'd have to go back to 1980 with Reagan and Pat Robertson to get anywhere close to this turnout."

He said numbers were probably driven by a combination of the double-contested race, good weather for the caucuses, and the high level of exposure local people had to the candidates.

"We had so many candidates come through, and there was so much media coverage here," Kass said. "When people are seeing their hometown on CNN and NBC, things like that will get people worked up to get out and vote."

Jordan Freking, a senior at Le Mars Community, was surprised when Barack Obama's campaign asked him to be the precinct chairperson for the Illinois senator. He stepped up to the job, and called in Obama's victory in his precinct to the campaign at the end of the night. [Click to enlarge]

At the Republican caucus in a packed Primebank basement, Rick Cargin and his son, Luke, were two of the 489 people that voted at that site.

"The last time I voted was in 1980, and only 30 people showed up," he said, noting that he turned out after getting three or four phone calls a night and "Mitt Romney mail" every day.

His 25-year-old son was caucusing for Mike Huckabee.

Audrey Brown and her husband Steven kept track of the sign-up for the Republican party at Brunsville. More than 100 people attended. They had to add more chairs for the people. Brown said there were at least fifteen 18-year-olds or 18-year-olds-to-be signed up. [Click to enlarge]

"He came to town in August," Luke remembered, "And he's got to be a good candidate because Chuck Norris endorsed him."

Shirley Jacobsen, who caucused for Hillary, said she thought part of what brought people out was frustration with the current administration.

"Four years ago there were such a few of us that we could all fit around one table," she said, looking around the Le Mars Community high school library, packed with people. "There are so many more Democrats out tonight -- it's just unbelievable."

Judy Bowman spoke to the crowd gathered at the Brunsville Legion Hall bar for the Democratic caucus for Johnson and Washington Townships, sharing her experience with the candidates who visited the Plymouth County Historical Museum, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. [Click to enlarge]

Her precinct was originally supposed to meet in the school's little theater, but they moved to the library for more space. On the Republican side in Le Mars, people waited all along the side of Primebank to get into the caucus site there.

An Edwards supporter, Randy Benton, said four years ago 40-50 people might have attended his precinct's caucus. This year, 170 did.

"I think it's the interest of people wanting change," he said, also giving a nod to the quality of candidates this year.

Jeannie Nemmers spoke on behalf of Rudy Giuliani at the republican precincts last night in Primebank. Based on his credentials and past work as mayor of New York City, she said that he's the best candidate for the position. "Even the democrats like what he did in New York City." [Click to enlarge]

He said he'd been sitting on the fence between Obama and Edwards, finally making up his mind today after doing a little more research.

"For me it came down to an electability issue," he said. "I think Edwards is the most electable of the candidates."

For former high school teacher Steve Mohning and his wife, rather than sit on the fence, they each chose a side.

Republican caucus goers from Craig, Brunsville and the surrounding area packed out the Brunsville Legion Hall on Thursday night. [Click to enlarge]

"We talked a great deal about it," Steve said, "But she was for Hillary and I for Obama."

Mohning said he was glad to see a younger demographic represented at the caucus.

"I taught a lot of these young people," he said. "It's good to see them out."

Republican caucus goers from Craig, Brunsville and the surrounding area packed out the Brunsville Legion Hall on Thursday night. [Click to enlarge]

The younger generation was well-represented on the Republican side at Primebank as well. Mallory Baack, 20, of Le Mars caucused for her first time, backing Huckabee.

"Voting is important," she said.

At the Republican Precinct 2 in the Brunsville Legion Hall, fifteen 18-year-olds turned out to vote

Kelsey Clay, 12, wasn't old enough to cast her vote at the Democratic caucus, but she watched it play out for Precinct 12 in the LCS library.

"It was long," she admitted -- the event was over in less than an hour and a half. But she plans to caucus when she's old enough.

"Because I want a good president," she said.

Grant Hanstein, 22, of Le Mars knew coming into his first caucus that he was going to vote for Obama.

"I think he's the person who sees tings need a change and he's the one who has enough energy and charisma to do it," he said.

For Jennie Miller, 18, of Le Mars, she wasn't certain who she'd vote for at the beginning.

"When I came tonight it was tied for me between Hillary (Clinton) and (Barack) Obama," she said.

In the end, she went with the Obama group.

"I like how he didn't vote for the war at the beginning," she said. "He's a peacemaker."

The "undecideds" and the last-minute voters may have helped augment a wide spread of candidate support in the results.

"There was an interesting diversity among the precincts," Kass said. "In Akron, Romney won hands down, and second went to Ron Paul. In my precinct, though, Fred Thompson won handily, followed by Romney."

Dr. Scott Ihrke, caucusing for Ron Paul at the Primebank Republican site, urged the party to rally together behind strong candidates.

"This isn't a horse race," he said. "We're here to narrow down the competition."

The narrowing process has begun. Even with the confetti of victory parties still in the air, the candidates were packing bags for New Hampshire, who will hold their primary on Jan. 8, leaving precious few days for candidates to pick up votes.

Don Kass, looking back on the night, said that the high turnout numbers couldn't hurt in the plight to keep Iowa's caucuses first in the nation.

"If we take it seriously, they'll take us seriously," he said. "We've been the flavor of the day for quite a few days, now. When you have records smashed with turnout numbers -- something like a quarter of a million people statewide went to vote -- that shows we're taking it seriously."

The Iowa caucus, he said is a bellwether for the nation, predicting that it will change things for the next two elections.

"I think we're electing a paradigm going into the future, whether it's right, left of center," he said.

Plymouth County Results:

Republicans

Democrats

Iowa Results

Republicans

Democrats

*Number of Democratic delegates are determined by attendance numbers