Drake University Students Aid Obama Win

When the precinct captain at the Democratic precinct location on Drake University's campus called out Obama's name Thursday night, there was no question who would be getting the most delegates in the room.

Two-thirds of the room stood up, cheering and applauding.

The 176 caucus-goers in Iowa's 45th Democratic precinct reflected the state's overall Democratic preference. They also reflected Obama's strongest demographic — the youth vote.

Reports Thursday showed 17-29-year-olds making up 57 percent of the Obama vote.

Out-of-state students enrolled at Iowa universities returned from their winter breaks early to take part in the caucuses as voters, volunteers, or both. Grinnell University in Grinnell and Drake University in Des Moines both opened space on campus to returning students.

Britt Provence and Joyce Yuen, Drake University juniors from Illinois, returned to campus to caucus.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Yuen said.

Both students said attending school in Iowa, where the election has come to the them, has made them appreciate the process more than they did before.

"Here, it's a different situation — it's, 'Which candidate is coming this week?'" Provence said.

But the pair, who helped register and check in caucus-goers, were two of the few students in the poster-covered room supporting other candidates. While Obama supporters made up 74 of the 176 caucusers, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden still garnered seven and 12 supporters each.

The precinct adjorned with Obama gaining more than 44 percent, followed by Bill Richardson, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton.

But youth weren't the Illinois senator's only supporters in the precinct meeting. Ruth Terrell, a 57-year-old teacher in Des Moines, said she caucused for Obama after hearing him speak at several campaign events.

"He's so real, so sincere and such a great speaker," Terrell said. "I was in tears once after hearing him. I thought it was going to be a lot closer tonight — I'm so happy."