Can someone explain what happened in Iowa yesterday?

[democrattotheend]

There has been a lot of fighting about this, but in all the arguing the basics of what happened have gotten lost. I vaguely remember reading about the second level of caucuses in 2008, but my memory is a little sketchy on how it works.

Can someone please explain:

1) How is it that, if Hillary had more votes in Polk County on February 1, Bernie ended up with more delegates at the second level caucuses? Does this mean that people who caucused for Hillary on February 1 ended up not being represented yesterday, or were the counts wrong on February 1?

2) What exactly did the Clinton delegates do yesterday that was unseemly or undemocratic? Were they just trying to make sure that the people who voted for Clinton on February 1 were properly represented, or did it go beyond that?

It would be helpful if someone from Iowa or who knows more about the second and third level caucuses could explain how it works.

[Kip Humphrey]

1. k&r - I too want to understand.

[HooptieWagon]

2. The caucuses on Feb 1 were to elect delegates to the next level.

Some of Hillary's elected delegates didn't show up, or flipped to Sanders. It also appears some M'OM supporters went to Sanders during realignment.
Clinton chairs kept demanding recounts and credential checks in order to drag the process out in the hopes some Sanders delegates would leave. After initial count, county chairs (Clinton supporters) told Sanders delegates they were done and could leave. A few did. Then the Clinton side started their shenanigans.

[AgerolanAmerican]

3. Ah the old "it's over go home" trick

a classic, I think they must train every establishment chairman in that tactic

[democrattotheend]

4. Wow, that is really sleazy

I don't necessarily think it i right for elected delegates to change their allegiance, because people who took the time to caucus in February should have the right to have the candidate they supported represented. But none of that excuses playing dirty tricks like this. I really wish the media would stop ignoring stories like this. This behavior is part of a pattern and it's not the first time the Clinton campaign pulled stuff like this.