No candidate gets anything for winning that straw vote.
You’re correct. It’s not a primary. It’s a caucus.
The candidates do get something out of winning the Iowa causus. They win there and their candidacy gains momentum. Iowa and New Hampshire have more say about who our presidential nominees are going to be than any other states. In fact, it is usually long decided before I ever get a chance to cast my vote.
So, based on what kind of fake hype the MSM indulges in, Iowa neighborhood meetings should be cancelled? Maybe the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson should be prevented from making campaign contributions because there’s plenty of fake hype there too.
Let’s just go to a single-day nationwide primary where no candidate without $20 million before the process starts has a chance to be heard. That’ll show those GOP-Eers!