I just fell in love with the Iowa caucus -

[hedgehog]

after 40 years of "what's a caucus?" and "why do they get to go first?" I finally get it. The Iowa caucus measures how determined people are to get out and vote for their candidate. Polls scare me because it's easy to say yes or no over the phone, but if 5% doesn't bother to show up the Tuesday after 1st Monday in November, we're in trouble.

[CoffeeCat]

1. Here is video of an Iowa caucus in action, if you are interested

And yes, caucuses tend to bring out Iowans who are very enthusiastic for their candidate. Most Iowans who caucus, fully immerse themselves in the campaign season--attending multiple rallies and political events while analyzing these candidates.

It's wonderful living in Iowa during this season. The media descend on our cities and towns. Most candidates make themselves outrageously accessible. I've spoken with so many politicians and asked them questions. It's truly like a month-long holiday in this state, during the final push before the caucuses. It's crazy.

We take our first-in-the-nation status seriously. We want to make a good choice, because we love our country and our Democratic party. So, you can bet that we are standing in the freezing cold in January listening to the candidates speak and vetting them. I've done so the last four caucus cycles! So do most of the other Iowans that I know.

[Attorney in Texas]

2. I love the fact that only half the "candidates leading the Iowa polls at this point went on to win."

Political junkies sometimes fool themselves into think that everyone is as interested (and gets as interested as early in the process) as fellow political junkies. In places where people actually do the voting, the process ramps up slowly.

Howard Dean in 2004, Clinton in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2008, and Herman Cain in 2012 all led Iowa at this point (six weeks before the caucus) and none of those poll leaders even came close to winning the caucus.

[Beaverhausen]

3. It's not about not bothering to show up

What about people who have to work during the 2-3 hours of the caucus? People who are physically unable to attend? Parents who can't find a sitter?

I think caucases are ridiculous. They were ok 200 years ago. Now, not so much.

[hedgehog]

4. If a person is a no-show because of problems such as you list,

(not to denigrate your examples - those are real problems), is that a predictor of people not voting because of the same types of problems?

[Beaverhausen]

5. Absolutely not

Working people have 12 hours to vote in most primary states. So people like doctors and nurses and all others who work evening shifts can vote in the morning. Elderly and disabled people can vote by mail. And on and on. Sorry but I'm not a fan of caucases.

[hedgehog]

6. Good points.