ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602130085
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
What is this event?
A night of meetings, organized by voting precincts, in which registered Democrats and Republicans gather to pick delegates to each party's county, district and state conventions and debate planks in the party platform. Participants this year also vote on the presidential candidates they favor. The spotlight is on the Republican caucuses because of competition for the GOP nomination. Iowa has 56 delegates at the Democratic National Convention, and 25 at the Republican National Convention.
Who attends?
The caucuses are open to registered party voters. This year, more than 135,000 Republicans are expected to attend. A recent study shows that the typical Iowa Republican caucus-goer is a 50-ish male with a college degree and an above-average income. Though they are often described as ``activists,'' roughly a third have not helped out in any campaigns.
How is it done?
Participants gather in churches, schools, offices and homes. They first conduct the presidential poll by secret ballot or by a show of hands. The results are phoned in to a central office, which tallies the results from all 2,142 precincts.
They nominate and elect convention delegates, and debate and vote on their recommendations for the state party platform. The meetings may last three hours.
Why does rest of country watch?
During a presidential election year, the Iowa caucuses - which have been first in the nation since 1972, but were beaten by Louisiana this year - are considered a sign of a candidate's viability. Those who do well in the poll get publicity, an infusion of cash from donors and some momentum heading into the primaries.
A win in Iowa doesn't always translate into success. In 1988, George Bush finished third, behind Sen. Robert Dole and religious broadcaster Pat Robertson. In 1992, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin won the Democratic poll but lost in other states to Bill Clinton.
Forrest Conklin, professor of communications at the University of Northern Iowa, contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICSby CNB