Supporters of Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, count themselves during a caucus on Tuesday at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. More than 2,200 people turned out at the fairgrounds site. On Wednesday, one analyst suggested that more caucus sites should have been set up around the state to handle the crowds.

It was a party that came with both logistical hiccups and political enthusiasm.

Kansas Democratic Party leaders on Wednesday said the excitement surrounding more than 36,000 people who participated in Tuesday’s caucuses also provided a tutorial on how to handle traffic and capacity problems.

“I don’t think our staff could have done much better in execution, although I know we’ll be criticized by the people standing outside,” said Larry Gates, the Kansas Democratic Party chairman.

Also, some Democratic legislators said – based on Tuesday’s huge turnout – they would support the state looking at funding presidential primary elections. Major complaints from Tuesday included traffic jams and having to turn away voters if they showed up late.

“I do not want people feeling disenfranchised,” said state Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, who organized a Lawrence caucus site.

Holland said that Tuesday’s turnout was great for Democrats, and that voters – some who had to stand in line as freezing rain pelted them – were cordial and enthusiastic. But the caucus sites needed to be in larger buildings, and he said the state should have presidential primary elections in the future.

Legislators last year declined to allocate the $2 million needed to run a statewide primary, forcing state parties to organize caucuses. In recent years, the state’s caucuses were later in the presidential calendar. Turnout was low because the parties’ nominees already were decided by voters in other states.

House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, was among those who said he would consider a primary, if the state could make itself relevant in the race.

Gates said the Democratic party was happy with how organizers handled Tuesday’s major turnout, but he believes a primary election works better.

“I will be pushing the Legislature very hard to do a timely primary, not a primary that doesn’t count, for the benefit of both parties,” he said.

Others said that decision would depend on the political climate at the time.

“It’s a long time until the next presidential election,” said Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence.

One pundit said that Kansas is inexperienced with caucuses and that the sites allowed for too many voters to attend, such as 2,218 people at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. Organizers needed more districts across the state to spread out turnout, as is done in Iowa, said Don Haider-Markel, a Kansas University political science associate professor.

“You end up with all these people. It ends up being crazy, no matter what,” he said.

While some Lawrence voters complained about long lines, parking issues and having been turned away because they were late to get in line, others said the caucuses provided a unique political experience.

“It’s really positive for us to go and exercise our voting right in that way,” said Hannah Love, a KU senior and student body president. “I hope in the future we have caucuses and after this year, I think they’ll be a little bit more prepared on how to handle them.”

Lawrence caucus site organizers said things operated smoothly once voters were checked in. They also made a good move by changing one caucus location from Liberty Hall to the fairgrounds. Liberty Hall was eventually needed anyway as an overflow caucus site due to the crowd at Abe & Jake’s Landing.

“(Tuesday) night was an experience that we may not see for quite some time,” said Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence.