Kallie Keith-Agaran, a research consultant who lives in Wailuku, Maui, said she first met Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, years ago at a dinner party in Chicago.

Keith-Agaran said she was impressed with Obama as a person but did not find out until later that he was her state senator. He never mentioned it at the party. She tells people now, as she volunteers for Obama's presidential campaign in New Hampshire, that as a politician he offers something different.

"I really think he is the man he appears to be," Keith-Agaran said.

The campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination reaches a critical point with Iowa caucuses today and the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday. But Hawai'i Democrats will have to wait until Feb. 19 — the date of the state party's caucuses — to get involved.

The Democratic Party of Hawai'i is hoping that interest in the campaign will help recruit new members and improve participation in the caucuses, which have had poor turnout. But this year's front-loaded caucus and primary calendar means that many of the big states — including California and New York — will have voted by the time the campaign reaches the Islands.

Obama, who was born in Hawai'i and graduated from Punahou School, has attracted more Democrats to the party. Local volunteers for the U.S. senator from Illinois said they have identified 4,000 to 5,000 potential Obama voters, including many who are new to the party. Volunteers have also raised nearly $500,000 for Obama here.

"We think people are going to show up in droves for Sen. Obama," said Obama volunteer Brian Schatz, a former state representative for Makiki.

Volunteers for U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York have opted not to do local fundraising because of concerns they would not be able to keep the money for use in Hawai'i. State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), a Clinton volunteer, said the volunteers will evaluate their strategy after "Super Tuesday" on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states have scheduled primaries and caucuses.

Hanabusa believes Clinton scores well with the party's traditional base and volunteers plan to target potential Clinton voters before the caucuses. She said Clinton's strength on economic and foreign policy issues, and her experience, puts her in good position.

"You need someone who people feel confident in," Hanabusa said.

Democrats estimate that the party has about 20,000 registered members. Turnout was about 4,000 for the 2004 caucuses and 1,200 for the 2000 caucuses. With the campaigns largely decided by the time they're held, the caucuses have mostly been relevant only to party activists who want to serve as state convention delegates.

Jeani Withington, a Big Island attorney and acting party chairwoman, said there is more opportunity for recruiting this year because of the strength of the candidates. She said the party has an outreach program planned to educate people about the caucuses. People can register with the party either before the caucuses or on the day of the caucuses.

Withington said Hawai'i could receive some national attention if there is no clear winner by mid-February. Only U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, has campaigned in the Islands.

"We anticipate a larger turnout because each of the campaigns have been very active through volunteers," Withington said.

Willes Lee, the state GOP chairman, also hopes to use the presidential campaign for recruiting. Republicans will hold a series of caucuses between Jan. 25 and Feb. 5 to elect delegates to the state convention. People have to register with the GOP at least 10 days before the caucus.

"I know the candidates are bringing more people into the party, re-energizing current members, and providing a great choice for America," Lee said.

Democrats, the state's majority party, have been particularly strong on the Neighbor Islands during the past few election cycles. Demographic changes could pose long-term risks to the party's dominance, but effective grassroots political organizing by labor unions, and the fact that many newcomers have sided with Democrats on issues such as environmental protection and opposition to the Iraq war have kept the party in power.

Linda Estes, the party's chairwoman on Kaua'i, said disgust with President Bush has brought more people to the party locally.

"Unfortunately for Hawai'i, the Democratic presidential candidate will probably already be selected before we hold our caucuses," Estes said in an e-mail. "However, I expect a good turnout because people are so excited about electing a Democrat for president who can begin to clean up the mess which has been created in this country over the last seven years by the Bush administration."

Lance Holter, the party's chairman on Maui, said he has also seen greater interest this year because of the candidates. He recalled how progressives showed up to the caucuses in what was considered record numbers in 2004 because of Kucinich and his opposition to the Iraq war. Kucinich finished second to U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

"This year I expect at least the same and more," Holter predicted in an e-mail.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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