The article I wrote about it here -->>
sallyal.ink/Iowa2012
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And who is experienced and available and in Iowa already? The staff of the other three campaigns.
Some of them use their own connections, some get jobs as part of an endorsement negotiation.
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There's a big room full of people, all the Dems in the county. There might be coffee. There are not enough chairs.
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A smart strategy is to pull all the chairs as close to your area as possible. Of course the other teams are doing this too
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"Voters" go stand under the poster of their candidate of choice. This why the chairs are so important.
When each candidate is called, they literally raise their hands to vote.
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Some people leave at this point. It's late and it's cold and it's past their bedtime.
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But they didn't.
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Richardson's organizers were thoroughly trained in delegate math. They had specific instructions about what to do when.
The goal was to keep Hillary from winning as many county caucuses as possible.
It worked. She came in 3rd.
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In 2008, only Hillary, Obama, and Edwards made it out.
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I've never been to one, but from what I understand the key difference is they vote on paper instead of raising their hands.
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It was going to be Romney, it was always going to be Romney, but they had to let it play out, because you never know.
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I've never been but it sounds like a big fair, booths with food & bands & booze. "Voters" walk around and party and then submit their ballot at one of the booths.
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I know that's self-explanatory, but my point is, you have to get them there.
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You weren't obligated to vote for the candidate you got your ticket from but that's of course the point. IDK if it was secret ballot or if you had to give it to them
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It was supposed to be a reliable predictor of who would do well in the Caucuses the following year.
It wasn't.
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In 2012, Michele Bachmann won the Straw Poll, Santorum won Iowa*, and Romney was GOP nominee.
*It was first called for Romney but a county chair went home to bed without turning in his tally
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1. Bachmann
2. Ron Paul
3. Pawlenty
4. Santorum
5. Caine
6. Perry (write in)
7. Romney (didn't compete)
Pawlenty dropped out after that. He'd been considered Romney's only real threat.
Crazy, right? 3rd place finish destroyed his career.
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So basically they all spent money, effort and resources to entice people to drink beer, listen to country music and hopefully vote for your guy.
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Most of them hung in until delegate-rich Florida, then it became a Santorum-Romney horse race. In the media at least.
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Most candidates are winnowed out after South Carolina (4th)
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More details here: sallyal.ink/Iowa2012
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But by then, it was over. No one even remembered his name
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Remember how he skipped the Ames debate and threw a "Veterans Event" instead?
His staff BEGGED him not to.
He lost Iowa.
So, in true Trump fashion, he fired his Iowa staff.
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So that's why we pay so much attention to Iowa.
Hopefully after 2016 there will be significant reforms
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NH might grant a few reprieves- they like to be contrary- but we're talking 5-6 candidates.
And they aren't going to be everyone's favorites.
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Your opinions are going to shift. Your allegiances are going to change. You will probably have to compromise or, god forbid, settle.
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Try to keep an open mind. It will be easier when you have to make tough decisions if you haven't vilified the rest of the field.
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She and Obama threw a little shade, but nothing like what he did.
We are supposed to all be on the same team.
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Yes, in 08 Hillary stayed in until then end. She had every right to.
That race was MUCH closer. And after Obama became the presumptive nominee, she never mentioned his name.
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Just remember your 1st choice may not make it very far, so keep an open mind towards the other campaigns and pay attention to what the other candidates have to offer.
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I welcome your feedback.
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