IOWA CITY (KWWL) -
Let the battle begin.
Iowa, the first in the nation caucus state, is now the first swing state to begin tallying votes for the November election.
Thursday, Democrats turned out in full force at the Iowa City Public Library, many of them University of Iowa students.
Among the large group, UI student Adam Mackey who waited in line for more than an hour to vote.
"People are very excited. I walk by people everyday trying to register people, and there's just a lot of energy," Mackey said.
Turnout at the satellite location was unprecedented, evidence that the young vote may once again be rallying behind President Obama.
"Being on a college campus just escalates it because we're all young here and a lot of us are really involved," said UI student Trudie Gabaldo.
"I definitely feel like in my classes, and my group of friends people are in support of the president," said UI student Dustin Davis, who was among the early voters Thursday.
Meanwhile, in Linn County republicans took to the phones to rally support for Mitt Romney.
"If you can vote early, do it because we live in Iowa, you never know what the weather is going to be," said Karen Zmoos of Cedar Rapids.
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas spoke to a group of Republican women Thursday in Cedar Rapids about the importance of hitting the polls now.
"Iowa is essential for Romney to win in order to put the electoral votes together," Hutchison said.
"I think with the Obama presidency, people have been disillusioned and they want a change," said Joni Scotter of Cedar Rapids.
Discourse sure to intensify as November sixth draws nearer.
