Democrats hope it signals a movement for change nationwide and in a state long dominated by Republican politics. They are challenging Sen. Ted Stevens, Congressman Don Young and Republican control of the state House in the fall election.
"There's a tide. There's a whole tide moving," said Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a Democrat who plans to announce sometime this spring whether he's running against Stevens.
But Republicans say their party is the strongest in Alaska and still had far more turnout than the Democrats.
"It was a great night for Alaska Republicans," said state Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich.
More than 8,600 people participated in Tuesday's Democratic presidential caucus. Many more tried to make it to the Anchorage caucus site at Begich Middle School (named after the mayor's father) but were stuck in traffic. It's a staggering growth from a turnout of only about 700 statewide for the Democratic caucuses in 2004.
But at least 11,600 Republicans voted Tuesday, and Ruedrich said he expected the final figure would exceed 13,000 participants. That smashes the record turnout of about 9,000 in the 1996 Alaska Republican party straw poll.
Ruedrich dismissed talk that the caucuses showed a resurgent Democratic Party in Alaska. He said there's nothing more to it than one contested race -- Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama -- that brought the Democrats out for the first time in years.
The state Democratic caucuses in past years also happened too late to really matter.
Ruedrich said 1,500 people registered to become Republicans at the caucus sites. There was also increased rural Alaska participation that the party wants to build on, he said.
There were 155 Republicans voting in House District 6, which includes Tok and the area outside Delta Junction as well a big swath of Interior villages. That's over five times more Republican caucus participation there than ever before, Ruedrich said, and more than the 41 Democrats who caucused from that House district.
"It will help the Republican Party in statewide elections as we have a stronger presence in rural Alaska," he said.
Ruedrich said Ron Paul's insurgent Libertarian-flavored campaign also brought younger people into the party.
The state Democratic party registered new members at the caucus sites as well, but officials did not know how many on Wednesday. Alaska Democratic party spokeswoman Kay Brown predicted the passion of the Tuesday caucuses would carry forward to the fall election.
Many Democrats said they came out in the bitter cold because they crave change. Obama won big here in caucuses that participants said were filled with an inspiring energy. Begich said it was like no political event he's ever been a part of.
FRUSTRATION AT THE CAUCUSES
It wasn't all roses.
Begich Middle School was the only Anchorage caucus site for Democrats. There were parking problems and frustrated people who couldn't make it to the caucus because of the traffic.
Organizers thought maybe 1,500 people would come to the middle school. After all, just 254 attended the Democratic caucus in Anchorage four years ago, they said.
Nobody in our group imagined it would be 3,700 people," said Anchorage party official Rod McCoy. "It just caught us totally off guard."
Party officials said a venue like Sullivan Arena would have been better in hindsight. Party spokeswoman Brown said it's also worth considering a state-conducted presidential primary instead of the party-run caucuses. That would take state money and approval of the Legislature.
The main Republican polling site at the Egan Center lobby in Anchorage was also crammed for the first couple hours of voting. Some voters were frustrated and said it was disorganized.
But others said it was inspiring to see so many Republicans come together to vote, a good sign for the coming elections. "It shows people care," said Ward Hinger, a Republican Party volunteer.
BUCKING THE TREND
The state Republican Party changed its rules this year so the vote is binding on the delegates who will help choose the presidential nominee. GOP officials said that helped boost turnout. So did efforts by the Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Paul campaigns to court Alaskans.
Several people at the Republican poll said they turned out specifically to oppose John McCain, who they deemed a "liberal" who opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Romney easily won the Alaska caucuses and McCain finished last.
That sets the state apart from the rest of the nation where McCain is leading the Republican race. It might dim Alaska Republican enthusiasm for the presidential race if he's the nominee.
Anchorage pollster David Dittman, who was on the Alaska steering committee for the campaign of Republican candidate Romney, said Tuesday was an especially big night for the Democrats.
But that doesn't mean it's an indication of any broader movement in Alaska, he said.
"It may be just a blip and go away," Dittman said.
Find Sean Cockerham online at adn.com/contact/scockerham or call him at 257-4344.
Alaska Republican preference poll
(Roughly 90 percent of ballots counted)
Mitt Romney 5,177
Mike Huckabee 2,596
Ron Paul 2,004
John McCain 1,837
Alaska Democratic caucus
(Supporters from 98 percent of districts reporting) Alaska Super Tuesday results
Barack Obama 6,471
Hillary Clinton 2,138
Uncommitted 12
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