Quick random question: are there any actual Iowans here?

[Recursion]

Like, anybody going to caucus tomorrow?

[rurallib]

1. good morning

Yes, not only will I be there, i will be the guy in charge.
I live in a small town. We are expecting from 300 - 500 total. We are now in 3 precincts.

I am going off soon to do breakfast etc - got a quick question.

BTW - most of the noise I hear is bernie, Bernie, Bernie

[Recursion]

3. Thanks for working the caucus!

Obviously I wish it were "O'Malley O'Malley!", but I really appreciate what you do!

[rurallib]

5. O'Malley just never caught fire

I have 3 or 4 friends who are split between Bernie & O'Malley.
Maybe it is the lack of name recognition. However, I don't believe many knew Sanders very much out here a year ago. O'Malley actually started about 6 months before anyone else. I even mentioned him on our blog a few times before anyone else. blogforiowa.com

My other thought is that his positions were just not that much different than Sanders. We saw him a couple times and liked what we saw, but just liked Sanders better.

With the "viability" process - a candidate needs 15% of eligible attendees - he may have a rough sledding. In a 300 person caucus that is 45 people and I don't see it.

Let me add that his workers - well all the staff of all the campaigns - have just been super. Hillary's campaign here has a staffer named Chelsea who actually resembles Chelsea Clinton. Kind of spooky

[DaGimpster]

24. Given your long history running Democratic caucuses...

... any opinion on the whispers I'm hearing about Hillary captains being trained to shed supporters over to Martin O'Malley, thus depriving Bernie Sanders of his delegates? I know gamesmanship is part of the caucus process, but I don't recall this in my now 3 caucus cycles.

I remember people at our caucus in 2008 trying to get a couple more for Biden to make him viable, but nobody bit.

[DefenseLawyer]

25. I have seen reports about Clinton people moving to O'Malley

To make him viable in places where it won't hurt her. I know that's happened before and may even be commonplace, I don't know. How will that play to the people at the caucuses if that starts happening?

[DaGimpster]

26. Birds of a feather think together!

[CoffeeCat]

27. For that "bit" to work...

O'Malley would have to be very close to getting a delegate, in the room--for this to be successful.

My sense is that O'Malley could have NO supporters in many precincts. So, it wouldn't work in those instances, at all.

If O'Malley does have support in precincts, it will be very few people. Of course, it depends on the precinct (and there are always anomalies), but chances are--he's going to have maybe a few people in the room for him. Depending on the precinct (and the numbers in the room) he will need many people to get up to earning a delegate. It will vary, but chances are he'll need several people, even 10+ to get a delegate.

The chances of that working--are not great. So, there's that. It's not going to be a widespread thing.

Another point to consider is that Iowans may not be so keen on playing games like that. If you start scheming and engaging in obvious attempts to hurt Bernie, Clinton supporters may not agree to do this (at best). At worst, they may be completely turned off by attempting to deliberately screw with Bernie's numbers while they themselves (the Clinton supporters) are used as cannon fodder to do this.

You could risk losing supporters.

I don't think this will be successful at all.

Luring people over to your group, and making the case for your candidate is standard at the Iowa caucuses. But that's a positive, proactive move. Attempting to hurt your direct competition is a negative move.

Attempting to hurt another candidate with these tactics--is kinda smarmy. Do you know how many people I talk to in Iowa (while I'm canvassing) who say, "I love both candidates, but here is why I'm going with Bernie/Hillary." Many like both.

I think it's risky. We shall see, I guess!

[rurallib]

30. well stated

All I can say, I have heard rumors.
If they do so, we will deal with it as the rules state.

[DaGimpster]

31. Thank you and CoffeeCat for the responses.

Very enlightening, and I know I'll be watching like a hawk. No pun intended.

CoffeeCat, the point you made about turning off people is very valid. In my wifes canvassing, a lot of people also said they liked both candidates. Playing spoiler games I'm sure would turn a lot of my neighbors off.

[Hortensis]

32. Agree. Thanks for both your inputs.

They count for a lot more than distant talking heads.

[Depaysement]

4. +1 nt

[CanonRay]

6. Please post some results when you are done if you wouldn't mind

love to hear it from somebody on the scene. And thanks for doing this. I ran a caucus in southern Colorado in 2008. What a night!

[rurallib]

7. Frankly, I am scared to death

This will be the third and I hope last caucus I run. I ran that mess in 2008.

My posting will depend on:
1) anything good to report
2) how freaking tired I am and
3) How much snow we get and therefore how long I will be removing said snow.

One of the interesting aspects of our town is that is majority Hispanic. Will be most interesting to see how many come out and who they come out for. I am hoping to see a good turnout from that community.

[CanonRay]

8. I hear you

We usually get around 60-80 people in a normal year. We were planning for 200. Then we doubled it. Then we doubled it again and almost ran out of stuff as we had nearly 800 people show up, most of whom had never caucused and probably never have since. I did 2012 before we moved, and it was nothing like it.

[DaGimpster]

16. Mean while...

They put my precinct here in Des Moines in a tiny golf club clubhouse. 4th largest precinct in Des Moines and usually in a school gym.

[CanonRay]

18. Now there''s a recipe for chaos

Good Luck!

[Renew Deal]

9. Are you working for a campaign or the party?

Is this your first time being in charge?

[rurallib]

11. I am working for the party. I am precinct chair

Some folks are wearing 2 hats both running the caucus and being a candidate precinct chair.
I was asked to do that but said no - too much stress already.
This will be the 3rd time I have led a caucus and probably the 6th or 7th I have attended.

One other thing - we will be expecting media. A group from New York called and I basically said we can't stop you (Vice News)
Last thing I want is to be a media headline on Tuesday.

[Renew Deal]

12. Vice is pretty cool

Have you seen their work? Always hi-def. Usually low key. Probably one reporter that looks like an amateur and one cameraman.

What I've always wondered about the IA process is whether the organizers get to participate. Are you the precinct chair of your precinct? Do you get to vote? Is there any absentee procedure?

[rurallib]

13. Yes I participate. No absentee votes

the whole concept of the caucus is personal interaction at one time. if you are not there, you don't get to participate.

Obviously lots of folks work or have other engagements. Couple of my best friends and very good Dems will be missing their first caucus to watch their son play basketball. District wrestling tournament will be going on at the same time and will draw a huge crowd at the high school.

When they say that the caucuses are for the real party hearty, they really mean it.

I can tell you also that I have no more influence than anyone else.

One plus BTW - we often have lots of cookies and cakes and other munchies.

[DaGimpster]

17. Vice must be all over the place.

My wife had one of their reporters shadowing while canvassing and then they asked if they could attend the caucus.

[rurallib]

20. probably. I feel like an exhibit at a zoo.

[KingCharlemagne]

19. You are an unsung American hero(ine) - nt

[rurallib]

21. Thank you, but not really

so many do so much more.
My counterparts across town have both run for office. They are heroes.

[KingCharlemagne]

22. You remind me of the heroes in Florida who tried to hand count the

ballots in 2000 before the Brooks Brothers Brownshirts shut them down.

You and they make democracy work.

[Depaysement]

2. Coffeecat

She has provided some excellent insight from Bernie's campaign.

[Recursion]

10. Thanks!

[Frustratedlady]

14. I've been an "actual Iowan" for 77 years...

I will be at the caucus so long as there isn't ice. Snow, I can handle, but I don't have much desire to break a hip over a vote. It appears the storm will miss us for the most part, so fingers and thumbs are crossed.

The people I know of that are going are taking their children to observe and are first-time caucus voters. All Democrats, I might add.

[kath]

28. I thought children weren't allowed.

[Frustratedlady]

29. I guess they'll find out.

I don't know the answer to that. These kids are all old enough to sit, listen and understand. It is a teaching exercise.

[DaGimpster]

15. Iowan here, in Des Moines.

Wife and I will be caucusing like always tomorrow.

[bullwinkle428]

23. Yes - attended my first one in 1988, and this will be my fifth.