Posted on 01/16/2020 6:31:11 AM PST by C19fan
The Iowa caucuses are never simple. Voters spend hours in high school gymnasiums or public libraries, starting their night by declaring support for their preferred presidential candidate. That’s followed by a feverish round of lobbying in which supporters of eliminated candidates are pressed to make a new pick by the evening’s end.
This year, the caucuses could be even more chaotic.
New rules that will be implemented for the Feb. 3 contest could give presidential candidates an unprecedented opportunity to spin the results. In previous years, the Iowa Democratic Party reported just one number: the number of state delegates won by each candidate. For the first time, the party will this year report two other numbers — who had the most votes at the beginning and at the end of the night.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Didn’t used to be this way.
Candidates were chosen at the conventions. There were no primaries or caucuses................
“The additional data is a nod to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters, who argue the previous rules essentially robbed him of victory in his 2016 race against Hillary Clinton. That contest ended in a narrow delegate victory for Clinton in Iowa.”
Ironic that Hillary would then make an identical complaint about the general election: That she was “robbed” of her victory because we followed the rules.
Even if they were to choose by playing pin the tail on the donkey, who cares.
Th Iowa caucuses are perhaps the most democratic institution in selecting representatives to the state conventions. Instead of having local or state party hacks choose delegates, the local cItizens debate and then choose them. It’s true that at these small meetings, a few well-organized individuals can sway the opinions of the majority, but that’s far better than these winner-take-all state primaries that are controlled by state and national party leaders and big money donors.
Just vote and get it over with.
Iowa caucuses have only been around since the ‘70s. Primaries haven’t been binding until even more recently. In 1968, Humphrey entered no primaries and got the nomination.
Candidates were always chosen by power brokers.
Iowa Caucus has been around since the 1800s. It was Jimmy Carter in 1976 who turned it into what it is today.
It wasn’t until the ‘70s that caucuses had anything to do with presidential nominations, originally they were just party organizational meetings. They still are in Iowa, with presidential preference added on.
How else do states pick party officials?
“Even if they were to choose by playing pin the tail on the donkey, who cares.”
LOL, really. It’s a moot point. They’re toast no matter who they choose.
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