Feb 5, 2008 5:53 pm US/Central
Heavy Turnout Seen For Super Tuesday Primary
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Illinois could set records for voter turnout in a primary. Excitement is high with the two Democratic contenders having local ties.
CBS 2's Pam Zekman reports there were very few serious problems reported by city and county officials Tuesday, so all eyes are focused on voter turnout.
It's too early to tell what the voter turnout will be, but city and county officials say they are hoping for a record turnout based on the record-breaking 150,000 early voters this year.
The Clinton-Obama race is one reason Chicago voters are expected to break records Tuesday; they have two homegrown candidates to consider.
Election officials said all signs point to a record turnout on Tuesday, exceeding the numbers in 1984. That would mean a turnout of at least 58 percent.
Gauging turnout so far really depends on where you go and who you speak with.
Langdon Neal, Chairman of the Chicago Board of Elections, said, "I'm hoping to reach 50 percent, which would surpass our turnout in the last 15 years."
So why do officials expect greater turnout today? There's never been a primary this early in Illinois so people feel their vote really can make a difference in the nomination process.
There's also the homegrown candidate effect. Obama calls Chicago home and Clinton was born and raised in Park Ridge.
"The only words of wisdom to the voters are this is your opportunity to participate in an historic election and it really is the first opportunity to elect an African-American president, a woman president; the first time since 1928 when we've not had a sitting president or vice president on the ticket. Don't sit on the sidelines be part of this historic election," Neal said.
Mike Andrews has known Clinton since high school. "I believe in a lot of the things that she believes in. I think she is extremely intelligent. I think she knows so much about what's going on in the world."
Mayor Richard M. Daley said he was happy to cast his ballot for Obama. "It's an exciting time to cast a ballot … and I think this is a very exciting time in the country."
The big rush at polling places is expected between 5 and 7 p.m.
"Most people in the Cook County area vote after four o'clock," said Cook County Clerk David Orr. "So I just hope they go out there, and if we get a little bad weather, they'll get through it. And I'm hoping what we'll do is we'll beat kind of the previous modern primary voting in suburban Cook County, which was 40 percent back in 1992."
In Illinois, even if they lose overall, they can still win delegates.
On the Democratic side, there was a bit of a cheerleading session at U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign headquarters Monday night.
Obama has a sound lead in Illinois over U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, but on a national level the two are neck and neck.
So, coming into this Super Tuesday, where delegates galore are up for grabs, the candidates were doing their best to leave an impression.
Clinton did it in a town hall meeting telecast in Park Ridge.
"I think it's important that the United States send a very clear message to people in countries like Iran that we believe in human rights. We want the people to know we are not against them, we believe they are oppressed by their government particularly women," Clinton said.
In New Jersey on Monday, Obama said, "After a year of criss-crossing this country, after engaging in a conversation with the American people, my bet has paid off and my faith has been vindicated because the American people, they are ready to rise and create a new America."
On the Republican side, polls show U.S. Sen. John McCain with a substantial lead over his nearest contender, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Both of them recently blew through Illinois.
Romney told CBS 2 "I'll fight here to keep good jobs here. I'll also fight for the Olympics."
McCain said, "I think we can go back to the principles of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. I think we can get back to the principals of smaller government, less regulation."
Neal also reminded anyone headed to the polls on Tuesday that they will only be able to vote for the candidates of one party and must declare which party they will vote for. He also said voters must not only cast votes for individual presidential candidates, but also for each candidate's delegates to their party's national convention.
Tuesday morning, two female election judges were removed after one slapped the other at a polling place at 600 W. Washington. The judge who slapped the other was charged with simple battery. The other was taken to a hospital and released a short time later. It was not known what started the fight.
Illinois polls close at 7 p.m. Cook County has gotten a court order to keep two precinct polling places open until 8 p.m. – the first precinct in Oak Park and the 49th precinct in Worth – because there were not enough judges to get them open on time.
The city told CBS 2 they are also going to court to get permission to keep the 28th precinct of the 35th ward open late.
CBS 2's Pam Zekman and Kristyn Hartman contributed to this report.cbs2chicago.com's Most Popular Pages 
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