Mike Niman: Primary Tales from the Crypt

[GreenEarthAl]

http://www.corporations-suck.com/CKs/Niman/PTFTC.shtml

Iowans, with their strange caucus system, have a disproportionate role in selecting the president. This is rather unfortunate, considering their demographic breakdown and how unrepresentative they are of the American population. While their handful of delegates probably won’t make much of a difference come convention time, Iowans enjoy the privilege of setting the momentum for the coming election, derailing campaigns such as those of Gephardt and Dean, while blowing new life into others.

The power they have is based as much on who they are, as it is on when they caucus. Washington D.C. voters, almost half of whom are black, voted a week earlier, with Dean coming in first and Sharpton coming in second. Their vote, demographically as skewed as Iowa’s, however, was all but ignored – with no major media outlet reporting on a “Sharpton surge.” The media also mostly ignored the fact that the caucus system, in which voters literally meet and line up in corners supporting different candidates, strips Iowans of their right to a secret ballot. This adds to the bandwagon effect, benefiting frontrunners.