Coffee and Caucus-Watching in Crown Point

Coffee and Caucus-Watching in Crown Point
The Conservative Cafe owner David Beckham with customer Patti Tubbs (Photo by Michael Puente/WBEZ)
Coffee and Caucus-Watching in Crown Point
The Conservative Cafe owner David Beckham with customer Patti Tubbs (Photo by Michael Puente/WBEZ)

Coffee and Caucus-Watching in Crown Point

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While Democrats were assessing Barack Obama’s win in Iowa, some Republican voters watched caucus returns from seats at the Conservative Cafe in Crown Point, Indiana.

President Huckabee. Joe Sanders says it wouldn’t be easy to get used to that name.

SANDERS: I don’t think a guy named Huckabee can be president. I have a problem with the name, as superficial as that sounds.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee won the Iowa Republican caucuses last night, with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney coming in second.

What Sanders doesn’t have a problem with is a Republican keeping the keys to the White House come November. But he’s not all that impressed with the final counts.

SANDERS: We’re putting too much emphasis on one state. Too early. I’d rather see it slow down a little bit.

Sanders works in construction and lives in Crown Point, less than an hour’s drive south of Chicago.

Crown Point’s known as the most Republican leaning city in Democratic-heavy Northwest Indiana.

The GOP runs thick here. It’s even in the coffee. Sort of.

As the tally from last night caucuses came in on this cold night, Sanders and others sipped on hot coffee and ate sandwiches at the newly opened Conservative Café—whose motto is: Coffee served right.

Café owner David Beckham doesn’t play soccer but is a former school teacher.

He identifies himself as a Republican, but welcomes all political persuasions to his cozy eatery where FOX News is the choice on the big HDTV.

Like Joe Sanders, Beckham says he hasn’t settled on a top pick among the GOP presidential hopefuls.

BECKHAM: I like a lot of what Mitt Romney has to say. Mike Huckabee, I think he’s a great guy, I just don’t know how presidential he is.

Patron Patti Tubbs says the economy will hurt the GOP’s chances.

TUBBS: I know more people now that are or would be Republicans, I know more of them out of work than ever before. Anyone in the housing industry, you’re talking bankers, closers. There’s more people out of work on the Republican end than we’ve ever really seen in the last eight years.

The next test for Republican and Democrats looking toward the White House will be next Tuesday in New Hampshire.

David Beckham says the TV will be on and the coffee hot that evening too, for patrons of either party who want to come watch the primary results at the Conservative Cafe.