With an eye on the presidential polls in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina where their candidate is competitive, Obama supporters rallied at the Masonic Temple in Newark on Saturday in preparation for the February 5th primary in New Jersey - where Obama is not competitive.

At least not today. Not right now.

That could change depending on what happens in the earlier primaries, and for a presidential candidacy built on change, a subject Obama's supporters figure they know well, they like the odds.

"This is going to come down to what kind of organization we have in key states around the country," Mayor Cory Booker told a crowd of 150. "New Jersey is probably one of the bellwether states in terms of where this primary is going to go."

Roselle Park felt a little bit like Des Moines last night, when about 200 Democrats gathered at an Italian restaurant for the New Jersey Democratic Caucus, where the results didn’t mean much but Democratic passion was on full display.

But if the results actually held water, then the world of New Jersey politics is topsy-turvy, because Hillary Clinton – who continues to lead state polls by 30% margins -- was eliminated in the first round of caucusing, coming in short of the 15% threshold with 27 members – 6 less than Dennis Kucinich’s 33.

And ultimately John Edwards, who barely makes a dent in New Jersey polls, prevailed with 76 supporters to Barack Obama’s 68 and Kucinich’s 34.

The event was conceived and organized by Jeff Gardner, co-chair of New Jersey for Democracy, and John Bartlett, Chairman of the Executive Committee of New Jersey’s Democratic Future.  Gardner had seen the Iowa caucuses four years ago, and thought it would be fun to imitate.  The two organizers invited every candidate – except one.