Iowa Caucus

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The Democratic Caucus: [/SIZE][/FONT]

1) Participants meet at 7:00 p.m. and elect caucus officers, with the elected chair running the caucus.

2) Information on the presidential candidates is distributed.

3) The process for selecting delegates to the county convention begins no later than 7:30.

4) Supporters divide into groups by candidate. To remain "viable" a candidate must have at least 15 percent of the caucus participants.

5) Supporters of "non-viable" candidates must decide whether to back another candidate or abandon the caucus.

6) Each "viable" candidate may elect delegates to the county convention. The number of precinct delegates is predetermined.

7) Results are compiled by the Iowa Democratic Party in Des Moines.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The Republican Caucus: [/SIZE][/FONT]

1) Participants meet at 7:00 p.m. and elect caucus officers.

2) Nominations are submitted from the floor for a straw poll, conducted by secret ballot.

3) Representatives are elected for the county Republican central committee.

4) Delegates are elected to the county convention.

5) Resolutions are discussed for the party platform.

6) Statewide results are tabulated by the Iowa Republican Party in Des Moines.

- www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/election/iowa-newhampshire/iowa-procedures.html

So apparently the Democrats elect delegates based on the number of supporters for each candidate meeting the 15% threshold and the Republicans are simply holding a straw poll with the delegates selected unrelated to the candidates' strength in the straw poll.

 

I guess that the number of delegates is predetermined regardless of how many people show up at each caucus.

It is my understanding that in the Democratic Party caucus there is a lot of shuffling around.

By they way, C-SPAN will be showing a Democratic Party caucus and C-SPAN2 will be showing a Republican Party caucus on Thursday night.