Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the projected winner of the Minnesota Democratic caucuses tonight, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has been projected the winner in the GOP caucuses.

Obama rode his appeal to younger voters to a win over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic caucuses in Minnesota.

With 45 percent of precincts reporting tonight, Obama had collected 65 percent of the votes to 33 percent for Clinton.

Obama's Super Tuesday win was built on strong support in the state's college towns -- but Clinton could still lay claim to a share of the state's 72 national convention delegates.

Minnesota voters had extra incentive to show up at precinct caucuses Tuesday night: For a change, the presidential nominations were far from clinched when their turn rolled around.

Unresolved races in both parties -- especially the close battle between Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- and a caucus held a month earlier than usual put Minnesota in the thick of the action.

The DFL Party turnout for the Super Tuesday caucuses in Minnesota reached at least 173,000.

That would more than the turnout for the 2004 caucuses. On the Republican side, attendance neared 50,000, with many precincts yet to report.

In Stearns and Winona counties, home to major universities, Obama trounced Clinton. The same went for urban counties that are home to the University of Minnesota and liberal arts colleges, including the Macalester College neighborhood where Drew Glesne cast his vote for Obama.

"I think his ideals fit a majority of America, and I think he'll be a very strong leader," Glesne said. "He has great morals, great character, and I have high hopes for him."

Heavy turnout marked precinct caucuses with hotly contested races on both sides.

Minnesota voters clogged high schools, community centers and college union, some parking their cars several blocks away and standing in line for more than a half-hour to cast their caucus votes in the presidential race.

Many said they were first-time caucusgoers. Veterans marveled at lines longer than they had ever seen. It helped that Minnesota's caucus was held a month earlier than normal and neither contest was settled yet.

Lisa Wolf, a 39-year-old rookie caucusgoer, weaved her way through jammed hallways at a suburban Minneapolis school to cast her vote for Obama.

"We need new blood. Enough with all-in-the-family administrations," she said of her vote. "I'm sick of the same-old, same-old."

Retiree Nancy Carroll balanced Wolf's vote with a succinct explanation for why Clinton was her choice: "Simple. Compare the resumes," she said. "The presidency of the United States is not an entry-level position."

Hundreds of people streamed into Simley Senior High School in Inver Grove Heights for a Democratic caucus. One of them was Bobby Mandell, an 18-year-old who came out to support Obama, even though he said his doctor had advised him to stay in after a weekend appendectomy.

"In the past, I've looked at the campaigns and it's been which candidate is going to hurt us the least," he said. "This debate, I really think it's which candidate is the best and that's how it should be."

Minnesota had 72 Democratic delegates riding on the caucuses.

All but three of Minnesota's 41 Republican delegates are chosen at congressional district conventions and the state convention in the spring.

Still, Romney and Texas congressman Ron Paul carved out time to campaign in the state. McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were Minnesota no-shows, although Huckabee's wife appealed for votes on his behalf.

In Inver Grove Heights, pediatrician Jennifer Gobel showed up to vote for Romney, favoring his approaches on the economy and national defense and his executive experience.

"We need somebody who knows what he's doing," she said.

With half of precincts reporting, Romney had as many votes as McCain and Huckabee combined. Paul registered in double digits but was headed for fourth place.

Jane Lao, a nurse from Eagan, threw her first-ever caucus vote to Huckabee, which she explained was as much a vote against Romney and McCain.

Lao said Huckabee's values struck a chord with her. "It sounds weird, but I just got a good feeling about him," she said.

The Independence Party, a major party in Minnesota, conducted in-person caucuses and began its "virtual" caucuses that allow people to express online preferences over the next month. Among the decisions was whether to support a movement to draft New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for an independent presidential campaign.

The caucuses marked the official beginning of what is certain to be a hard fall fight for Minnesota's 10 electoral votes. Although Democrats have carried the state the last eight presidential elections -- dating to 1976 -- Republicans have put considerable effort into turning the tide in recent years. The party will hold its nominating convention in St. Paul in September.

The presidential race wasn't the only draw for caucus goers.

The caucuses were also the first test of strength among Democratic candidates vying for the party's U.S. Senate nomination. Al Franken, Mike Ciresi and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer hoped their supporters would turn out and take the first step toward being delegates to the late-spring state party convention.

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, seeking re-election for the first time, is a shoo-in for the Republican nomination.