What a crowd

I caucused as a Democrat tonight in a precinct that in the past has tended toward the Democrats but has shown more independent than party-line voting. What a crowd!

We were more than expected - 360 - which is perhaps 60% of the number of previously registered Democrats in the precinct. This all took place in a classroom built for about 300. With similar record setting participation across the state, it suggests that Iowans were informed, engaged, upset, and determined to be heard. In an Iowa Democratic caucus there are two votes taken for the candidates. The first vote establishes a break-down of support for each candidate. If a candidate fails to garner 15% of the supporters who registered for the caucus, that candidate is deemed nonviable. For our precinct the critical number for viability was 54. Supporters of a candidate without the 15% then have choices: stick with their candidate and risk getting nothing in the final tally; try to get other people to join with them for the final vote; or split up and join with another candidate’s group. Some people left or didn’t vote, but the number needed remained at 54.

Our first vote of the 351 remaining caucusers broke down this way with numbers and rough percentages: Obama 144 (40%); Clinton 69 (19%); and Edwards 59 (16%). The nonviable candidates were Richardson at 35 (10%); Biden 21 (6%); Kucinich 10 (3%) Dodd 6 (2%) with 7 votes uncast and 9 people who left.

Then each group and each person had 30 minutes to decide where they were going to stand for the second and final vote. A volunteer for each candidate had one minute to offer reasons to join them. (After 10 months of campaigning, reading, and talking, one minute was enough.) Lobbying, cheering and bargaining occupied the rest of the 30 minutes.

All of the four nonviable groups split up and caucusers went with one of the three leaders. Thus, there were 72 caucusers that were to be divvied up.  Our room was leaking caucusers, and seven more left before the next vote. Now there were 344 of us for the final tally. The final vote was Obama 176, Edwards 88, and Clinton 80. Obama had gained the most (+32) but Edwards (+29) leapfrogged Clinton (+11) for 2nd. I may be wrong but I see meaning in the shifts. I have thought for some time (but this is just one person’s opinion) that Senator Clinton’s support is pretty solid and may be closer to its maximum limit than the support available to either Senator Edwards or Senator Obama. Time will tell.

How fortunate we have been and are to have such great candidates running for the Democratic nomination. I heard Senator Obama’s caucus victory speech in person; he was passionate and riveting in declaring that the time for American unity and change has come, a time for choosing hope over fear, a time for citizens to take back control of our nation. He concluded, “..that together ordinary people can do extraordinary things because we are not a collection of red states and blue states. We are the United States of America, and in this moment, in this election we are ready to believe again.” Want to hear Senator Obama’s Iowa caucus victory speech?

Guest Writer: James G. Lindberg (Jim) is the the Purple Wren’s sweetie and is a visiting chemistry professor at Grinnell College and retired from Drake University.

[tags] Iowa, Des Moines, Des Moines News, Obama [/tags]