Sometime in the rapidly-approaching future, voters in Iowa will gather in Republican and in Democratic caucuses for the purpose of selecting presidential nominees. Imagine what would happen if registered members of the parties decided to place support behind a candidate who has not declared her intention to seek the office. Imagine, also, if an issue rather than a candidate were to receive caucus support.
The communications director for Think Condi, Crystal Dueker, was in Des Moines this week to generate support for Condoleezza Rice as president. Think Condi is a 527 group dedicated to the goal of drafting Secretary of State Rice as the Republican nominee for president. There are additional tasks falling to the group members since Rice is prohibited from being a candidate as long as she remains in the cabinet. Thus, Think Condi has to persuade voters on caucus night or at primary voting sites to support a candidate whose name is not officially listed as an option.
While in Iowa, Dueker has been making the rounds of media outlets and meeting with Republican activists. She also worked the crowds in eating and drinking establishments, just like her candidate would be doing, if Rice were officially running. Dueker said that people are excited about the possibility of President Rice. One of the events she attended was Caucus Monday at Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company where she was able to inform other attendees that the bar’s informal voting system allows write-ins.
In a way issues can be the direct object of a caucus. Attendees can pass resolutions that then go to platform committees for possible discussion at state conventions. Issues also can arise as points of argument when trying to persuade other Republicans or Democrats to support a particular candidate. Des Moines for Darfur has t-shirts of a light burnt orange color with the words “I Caucus for Darfur” on the front. As with other groups that urge people to caucus for an issue, Des Moines for Darfur is hoping that activists will attend candidates’ events and ask them where they stand on resolving the humanitarian crisis and the genocidal actions occurring in and around the western part of the Sudan.
Des Moines for Darfur will hold training sessions, including background information on the region and how it differs from the war and famines that raged through the southern part of the Sudan for decades. The first session will be on Saturday, September 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a reception planned afterwards. A slightly shorter session will be held on Sunday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Due to limited space, advanced registration for this free training is requested. It will be held at the Pappajohn Education Center (1200 Grand).
For people who want to be involved in solving problems surrounding Darfur but who cannot pursue candidates, Des Moines for Darfur meets the last Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Caribou Coffee (3221 Ingersoll Avenue).
Guest Writer: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.
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