Have the candidates been doing caucus training

[MineralMan]

for potential attendees in Iowa? Thinking back to 2008, my wife and I attended a caucus training session, sponsored by the Obama campaign, a couple of weeks before the caucuses in Minnesota. In it, the entire caucus and convention system was well-explained by the trainer. It gave me the confidence to become a convention delegate that year.

The whole system was foreign to me, since I had lived in California for over 50 years, where primaries are the rule. By learning how the caucuses and conventions worked, I was able to maximize my participation. I've been heavily involved in DFL party activities ever since.

If the candidates are not holding such sessions in Iowa, they should be. The process can be somewhat confusing if you know little about it, even at the precinct level. Once you're involved in district conventions, it's even more complicated.

[NurseJackie]

1. It's difficult to imagine that they wouldn't have thought of this already.

But you never know. Can we draw any conclusions based on how a candidate's ground-forces operate? If a candidate does (or doesn't) appear to be taking votes for granted, is that a clue to any caucus training that may (or may not) be happening?

[MineralMan]

2. The Iowa Democratic Party had set up some

caucus training events, I discovered. I didn't see any notifications of candidate-sponsored training though, except some Rand Paul things.

Regular caucus-goers wouldn't need such training, but the whole caucus process can be a little intimidating for people who have never participated. If I were a candidate who was trying to attract new voters and people who don't normally caucus, those training sessions could be very valuable.

The Obama campaign set up several of them here in Minnesota in 2008 prior to the caucuses. Clearly, the recognized the importance of educating new participants in the process. As it turned out, that year had the largest turnout at the caucuses in history. I credit the Obama campaign's efforts for at least part of that.

That's why I was curious.

[NurseJackie]

3. THIS: "...but the whole caucus process can be a little intimidating..."

...but the whole caucus process can be a little intimidating for people who have never participated.

That would definitely apply to me. I wouldn't know where to begin or what to do. (I'd make an effort to find out, though.)

Still, it's easy to imagine that for a lot of newly eligible voters, and new residents, the process may be so confusing that it actually DISCOURAGES participation. (I guess that's another good argument for eliminating the caucusing and having a standardized process for the nomination process.)

[MineralMan]

4. If you go to a caucus, there's usually enough

information provided by the caucus leader to get you through the process. Still, not knowing what will occur is a serious bar to people not familiar with caucuses. People don't like to go places and events they don't understand. It's amazing how anxious many people are about attending public events, too.

I enjoy the atmosphere of caucuses and conventions, but I've seen new caucus attendees look pretty intimidated by a caucus. Here in MN, both caucuses and conventions are run according to Robert's Rules of Order, and that can be confusing, as well. Typically, attendees have to sit through a variety of procedural things on the agenda before getting to the business of choosing a candidate. Depending on the caucus leader, that can be either boring or even entertaining.

It's an interesting process. I tend to agree that a more traditional primary voting process is probably a lot more fair and is far more likely to get a decent turnout.

[sabrina 1]

5. I can't speak for Hillary or MOM, but Benriie's campaign has released an excellent video

explaining the whole processs which is very well done. And experienced supporters are doing so themselves also. So yes, Sanders campaign is doing a great job of training people how to caucus.

[MineralMan]

6. Thanks. Videos work well, if people view them.

The Obama campaign had a very good one in 2008, and there are also videos on YouTube for Minnesota caucuses.

YouTube is a great resource for people who are unfamiliar with caucus meetings. There are several for Iowa and for Minnesota, based on my search there.

[sabrina 1]

7. Yes, they are and people are viewing them. They are using them at meetups etc. And they are being

passed around on every Socal Media forum plus, I believe they are on Bernie's site and his Utube channel.

I remember Obama's as I was a supporter of his campaign also.