caucus

Our Observer’s experience of a caucus in Iowa city

Julien — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:27:36 +0100

Want to know what a caucus is really like? Our Observer Sam Sadden took part in one in Iowa city. Here are some photos of the event and Sam's take on the evening's events.

We caucused in the cafeteria of a local high school. The organiser of the caucus explained the process to us. In total we were 288 people at this precinct. He explained that for a candidate to be "viable," 15% of the people in attendance needed to be in the candidate's group, so 44 for ours. Our precinct had 4 delegates to divide, this number being decided from the turnout of votes from 2004 I believe. I had multiple people supporting different candidates ask me who I was going to support and if I would consider their candidate. Along the walls of the cafeteria, posters and tables were set up by volunteers. Most candidates had a table set up with food, cookies and drinks. It is a very open atmosphere. Once the organiser had given his instructions, we were given 30 minutes to decide which candidate we wanted to support by walking over to their table."

Post your questions to our observer, Sam Sadden

Iowa caucuses: video commentary from our Observer George Shantzek

Julien — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:09:23 +0100

George Shantzek is a media specialist originally from Miami. Here are his initial reactions to the results of the Iowa caucuses: The winners, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee, have something in common, he says; they both preach major change in Washington. Of the former vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who finished second and before the favourite, Hillary Clinton, Shantzek says that he made a comeback through an aggressive and populist campaign that never stopped condemning the American health-care system.

As a humorous side to the caucuses, take a look at ultra-conservative Mike Huckabee's "Chuck Norris Approved" campaign advert that was a hit on Youtube.

The opening caucus in Iowa: how does it work?

Julien — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:39:33 +0100

The whole world is following the first round of the American elections, which begin tomorrow in the state of Iowa. Everyone's talking about...but does anyone know what it really is? Our observer in Iowa city, Sam Sadden, will go to the caucuses. He explained to us today how the elections will be held. We also show you the campaign videos of the leading candidates. Sometimes funny, often too kitsch.