Voter Turnout Overwhelms Iowa Caucuses

As the time to caucus approached, precinct captain Dave Erickson realized he had a problem: More than 100 people and one small room.

With eight precincts gathering at the West Des Moines high school, there wasn't an empty spot in sight.

"I don't know what we're going to do. It's going to be a challenge," Erickson said. "It's a great slate of candidates. There's great interest in all of them."

The scene at that caucus was repeated across the state as a record number of Iowans left their homes on a cold night and filled nearly 1,800 school gyms, fire houses and community halls. Democrats estimated turnout at 220,000, and nearly …