Barack Obama overwhelmed Hillary Rodham Clinton in Democratic county caucuses Saturday across the North Olympic Peninsula, while Arizona Sen. John McCain edged out Republican support over Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Illinois senator Obama took 442 of a possible 560 delegates — about 70 percent — who were elected at Democratic precinct caucuses in Clallam and Jefferson counties to attend county party conventions.
Clinton received 166 delegates across the Peninsula during the caucuses.
Meanwhile, Clallam County Republicans gave Paul a plurality of their delegates — 47 out of a possible 184, or 26 percent — and 45 for McCain.
Clallam County GOP also decided on 37 for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and 27 for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the race Thursday, with 28 uncommitted.
Jefferson County Republicans made Paul a respectable third-place finisher behind McCain and Huckabee, judging by the votes at the caucuses.
Ron Gregory, vice chairman of the county GOP Central Committee, said he didn’t know how many delegates each candidate won, although he estimated that about 30 delegates will go the GOP county convention.
That meant no delegate totals for the two counties were available in the GOP races Saturday night.