Local view of Iowa Caucuses

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The nation’s first presidential primary is underway and all eyes are on Iowa.

Both the democratic race with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and the GOP race with front-runners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are too close to call.

Tennesseans and Georgians will get their chance to be heard on March 1st, if they are registered by Monday.

Just because Iowa voters may prefer a certain candidate in each party doesn’t mean voters in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama will agree.

But the results from the Nation’s first caucus vote may settle some of the big questions; like Donald Trump’s real strength and whether Hillary Clinton has been hurt by her e-mail issues as Secretary of State.

What do local party leaders think about the candidates?

The Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lee says, “Its seems rather clear-cut now, but politics can change on a dime. I think we just have to take one day at a time and see where the process leads us.”

Lee says local democrats have a problem with turn-out.

He says, “The big thing in Hamilton County is not the registration but the number of people who are just certain they are not exercising their right to vote. That’s been their biggest problem for the Democratic party over the last 14 years.”

Republican faithful gathered at the Pachyderm Club at noon Monday.

The subject was downtown development, but the upcoming election dominated table talk.

Chattanooga City Councilman Larry Grohn says, “The nation has not necessarily chosen a lot of winners out of Iowa, but we certainly have chosen a lot of losers out of Iowa.”

The County Elections Department has trained 800 people to work the polls.

Elections Administrator Kerry Steelman says Hamilton County has not had any issues over the years on election day.

Steelman says, “I think that speaks volumes about the level of commitment and dedication of the folks we have working at our polls.”

Steelman says this last day to register was a busy one as is usually the case in a presidential election year.