Bernie Sanders supporters have turned out in large numbers at Democratic presidential caucuses in Lawrence and east Topeka.

The Vermont senator's backers appeared to outnumber supporters of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at caucus sites Saturday at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School in Lawrence and at Highland Park High School in east Topeka.

At the east Topeka caucus, Melinda Kline supported Sanders because of his proposal to provide tuition-free education at public universities and colleges. The 52-year-old social worker from Burlingame has two children in college and says Sanders has been himself his entire career.

But in Lawrence, 30-year-old pharmacist Virginia Eliason, who voted for Clinton, said, "Who better to be in charge than someone who has a lot of experience?"