Update: 6:45 pm: The caucus captain just made his first announcment. If anyone has platform resolutions, they are to bring them to the front.

There are some toddlers here and some teens. It's filling up fast. The supporters have signs with their candidates names and many are

standing, waving them towards the back of the room (I guess so new people entering know where to sit.) I'm taking lots of pictures which I'll post later. (Update: some of them are here.)

Update 6:52 pm: It's really loud in here now. Almost all the seats are taken. The campaign leaders are shouting...it's amazing that no one brought a bullhorn. Call to order will be in 5 minutes.

Update: 7:00 pm. It's started. The caucus leader is a male, around 40, who has done this before. He announces the agenda: Instead of candidate speeches, there are letters people can read.

They now elect a permanent chair. It takes 30 seconds. The caucus head then nominates someone secretary. Everyone seconds her nomination and they vote unanimously.

Now they will get to the fun part and determine the threshold. The caucus leader reads a statement that says there will be no discrimination and affirmative action is the rule.

Now they will divide into preference groups. Kucinich supporters ask where they go. The caucus leader tells them behind Richardson. He asks if anyone is for Dodd. No one answers.

The uncommitted are told to go to the back. Each preference group has to elect a representative. The rep will count the numbers in their group and then report the number to the caucus chief. Then they will see who meets the 15% threshold. A half hour is allotted. They vote on whether to extend the time "if needed." Overwhelmingly, they vote no. A half hour it is. The people in the back are screaming they can't hear.

The delegates will be awarded after determining who is viable. Then they will elect delegates to the county convention, elect delegates to committees, elect some more people to other things, discuss planks, take up new business and adjourn.

Update 7:12 pm: Clinton has 99. They are screaming. I haven't heard Obama's number yet. Back soon.

Update: First count: Hillary 99, Edwards 81, Obama 175! These are preliminary. Kucinich had 5. Biden 23. The captain next to me says Richardson is not viable.

494 is the total. Viability number is 75. Edwards made it. If their candidate doesn't have it, they get to join another group.

Biden's people are not moving. He's told his group to stand firm till the third count. Obama's people brought them a box of chocolates that they are waving around but no one's going. Richardson's people are going to Edwards!

Announcement: 10 minutes left. Every time a group of supporters from a non-viable candidate goes to one of the majors, there's an ear-splitting scream from that section.

Update: Biden just went to Obama en masse. A young woman just walks up to Hillary's section asking if someone could give her info on Hillary because she was Richardson and doesn't want to go to Edwards like the others.

Update 7:35 pm: There's major screaming. These people are rocking out. Edwards just scored the rest of Richardson's supporters. Hillary didn't seem to gain any from anyone. Looks like it will be Obama followed by Edwards. They are doing the final count now. No more switching allowed. Hillary's at 107. Edwards is 132.

7:41 pm: Final tally: Obama wins, with 213. Edwards second, with 132. Hillary third, with 107. Obama gets 4 delegates, Hillary and Edwards get two each. That's a wrap. I'll have more later from the convention center, including thoughts on this caucus group. This is definitely an urban, progressive group. Check back for photos.

Update: As we walked into the convention center, Wolf Blitzer called it for Obama. It was very quiet and deserted. Certainly no swarm of 2,500 journalists. We left and went back to the hotel where Hillary was about to give her speech.

The hotel was packed with several hundred Hillary folks. The only food (and we were starving by this time) was chips -- tortilla and potato.

I've got an early flight home in the morning. It's been a crazy few days, in no small part due to the insanely cold weather. But, I have to say, against all odds, I like Iowa. It's not all farmhouses. The caucus I attended could easily have been in Denver. It was diverse in age and race. There were hippies and gays and working people and families with toddlers. They were friendly, spirited folks who care about our government.

One of my favorite responses to people who complain about our government without offering aany concrete solutions is "We get the Government we elect." These Iowans showed up on a cold winter night to register their beliefs and be counted. They did their part and their vote deserves our respect. Now it's our turn.