GOP smashes caucus turnout records on Super Tuesday
Minnesota Republicans are basking in a record-setting caucus turnout.
The state's Republican Party said Wednesday it easily shattered its previous benchmark with roughly 115,000 votes tallied. That's up from 65,000 votes in 2008.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio captured Minnesota for his first and only win Tuesday as 12 states voted on Super Tuesday. Bernie Sanders picked up a critical victory on the Democratic side.
The GOP numbers were no doubt bolstered by the wide field of GOP candidates and an unusual focus on Minnesota as part of the bloc of voting states. But it's also the first time in years the party has held a binding straw poll for delegates.
Minnesota's Democratic party hadn't finalized turnout estimates Wednesday morning. Surpassing its 2008 high of more than 200,000 was unlikely.
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