In a live video feed viewed by caucusgoers, the president thanked his supporters.
While the GOP’s presidential hopefuls began descending on New Hampshire today, Obama was scheduled to visit Ohio and expected to give remarks on his attempt to grow the economy and create jobs.
Many of today’s themes will echo the stump speeches he gave in Iowa four years ago, said White House press secretary Jay Carney.
More than 25,000 Iowans turned out for the Democratic caucus, Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Sue Dvorsky said last night.
“The Iowa caucus was a great opportunity to test our campaign organization and expand our volunteer base as we move toward November,’’ she said.
In 2004, when President George W. Bush sought re- election, 11,160 Republicans took part in GOP caucuses, according to the US Election Project run by George Mason University.
Democrats said they took the caucuses very seriously as part of their preparations for the November general election and tried to maximize participation by the party faithful.
“We’re approaching this as an organizational activity,’’ said Sam Roecker, Iowa Democratic Party communications director.
For Democrats, yesterday’s exercise was focused on building the party apparatus that will help reelect the president. “These are the people we want to see get involved in the campaign,’’ Roecker said. “We’re going to get these people to work, to engage them, and get them to engage their neighbors.’’
Four years ago, a record number of Democrats attended the party’s caucuses.
Obama, then a first-term senator from Illinois, rode a wave of enthusiasm and an impressive organization throughout the state to take the 2008 caucuses, prevailing over the favorite, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, and the former vice presidential nominee, John Edwards of North Carolina.
Obama handily won the state in the 2008 general election against Senator John McCain, a Republican of Arizona.
“Iowa is obviously a special place for the campaign and the president,’’ said Ben Finkenbinder, an Obama campaign spokesman.
Obama has maintained key parts of his campaign organization in the state, signaling that he was not about to take Iowa’s six electoral votes for granted in the general election.
In recent years, the Democratic Party has outpaced the GOP in recruiting new members.
In 2004, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by about 50,000.
Now, Democrats outnumber the GOP by about 40,000 - although a sizable bloc of Iowa voters remains undeclared.
