DENVER -- Party leaders are celebrating Tuesday's record turnout at Republican and Democratic caucuses in Colorado.

120,000 people turned out for the Democratic caucuses. The previous record for a presidential caucus was 15,000.

70,000 people showed up on the Republican side. The party chair said that too was a record.

Despite the success, some voters say Colorado should consider moving back to a primary election.

"I think it's very likely we would have seen a greater turnout (with a primary)," said Jenny Flanagan of Colorado Common Cause. "Remember in Colorado nearly one third of our registered voters are unaffiliated, none of whom could participate in the caucus process."

Colorado switched to caucuses to save money. The state was paying for elections where there was very little turnout. Flanagan said the parties pay for the caucuses.

"There are pros and cons to the caucus system," Flanagan added. "There was certainly a lot of turnout and I think that's encouraging in a democracy, but many people chose not to participate because it's not a private process."

"It's true grass-roots democracy when you get down to it," said state Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams. "What you've got is a neighborhood meeting where people do more than just vote on a potential presidential candidate. They discuss issues and they elect delegates to higher conventions."

"It's a way to connect people to political life," said Democratic Party chair Pat Waak. "So much of politics today has become media oriented with advertising, and you never see the candidates. You never really talk to people who are committed to voters and the caucus system enables you to do that."

But Flanagan said she can’t help but wonder what could have been.

"I think we certainly would have seen an impact on the outcome of the election,” she said. “And you probably would have seen a difference in the way the candidates campaigned in our state, because now you're talking to a whole new pool of voters, the unaffiliated voters."

But Waak said, “I don’t think it (a primary) would have made a difference in the candidates visiting the state. We actually had a good presence on the part of the candidates.”

She noted that Sen.Barack Obama visited Colorado, so did Sen. Hillary Clinton, so did Clinton’s husband, the former President.

“My message to unaffiliated voters,” Wadhams said, “is make a choice. Pick a party. Neither party is perfect, but after taking a look at the parties they can figure out which one comes closest to their point of view.”

Some voters enjoyed the caucus system Tuesday night. Others say it wasn’t really that exciting.

“We were packed in a tiny room,” said Elena Nunez, who attended a caucus in West Denver. “We didn’t really discuss the candidates, we didn’t really discuss the issues, we just kind of split into sides. They counted and said ‘OK if you want to go you can go.’”

Nunez said she’d rather go to a primary, “Because it’s easier. You can go vote and you’re done.”

But Julia Gough said she likes the caucus.

“I like talking, so I probably prefer the caucus. I can get my views out and hear others.”

When asked if the huge turnout justified spending money for a primary election, Flanagan said, “Well you know they say you get what you pay for.”

The head of Colorado Common Cause said you can’t run democracy on the cheap.

“We’re seeing this as we’re planning for elections in November. There are a lot of questions and elections cost money.”

She said the state has to make an investment, “because we’ve got to put voters first. They want to participate and we’ve got to be responsive as a state.”