straight from Kalona Iowa caucus

[terryg11]

We got done about 8:30 but it was pretty much decided early on, just a matter of trying to get more delegates. Here's how the night went.


Showed up at the caucus site, a private home and there were already thirty people there. Kalona has roughly 2000 people so this was the only caucus site in town. The hosts were told by the democratic party to expect around twenty or so but the official count was 71!!!!
That was great!!
We went through some of the formalities, rules, letters from officials and candidates then divided up into our groups of candidates we supported. Breakdown was as follows:

Kerry had 32 supporters, Gephardt had 10, Dean had 10, Edwards had 15 and Kucinich had 4 (which I was one of). To be eligible to send delegates you had to have 11 or more supporters. Three of us made the rounds and ended up in Kerry's camp while one ended up with Edwards ( for me it was tough for a while but I went with Kerry).
Gephardt supporters were tough holdouts with at least four or five abstaining their vote at the end. As people approached them and tried to persuade them to join their group it got serious but stayed well natured.
Final results were, Kerry had 40 supporters and thus got 3 delegates.
Dean had 11 and got 1 delegate, Edwards 14 and 1 delegate. So from there we voted on delegates and got tht set up. It was a very fun experience.

One interesting note, Kerry had a very strong and persuasive supporter who is the husband of the town's mayor. People were pushing him to be a delegate but he declined because HE USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN and didn't want his loyalty questioned. Apparently he was a big mover in the county republican machine until W was elected. In talking with him and his wife, his list of grievances with Bush mirror those that many of us here have stated. His wife has always been a democrat though. ANyhow, JUST thought I would share a little of my caucus experience with everyone here.

Also, in case anyone doesn't already know, they were expecting huge turnouts all across the state tonight. Johnson county which is where the University of Iowa is located and is quite active politically was forecasting a possible 300% increase over 2000's caucus involvement. this bodes well I think for the democrats

[terryg11]

1. gotta have one kick

this sank in one minute!!!

[MidwestMomma]

2. Thanks for your report and your participation

I think bush should be very scared. No matter who gets the nomination, Democrats rock!!!!!!!!!!!

[KCDem]

3. thanks for writing about your experience!

It sounds very interesting. Caucuses sound so... weird... and yet, in a way, a very cool way to do things.

Awesome on the former Republican-turned-Dem. I love those kinds of stories!

[blm]

4. I think Kerry will pull in former GOP who are ashamed of Bush.

The Fire Fighters and Veterans are with Kerry.

Bush cannot win.

[Bluzmann57]

5. Cool!

I just came home from a caucus in Davenport and we had 88 atttendees in our precint which wasn't bad at all. Kerry ended up getting the most support, with Dean running a close second. All in all, it was an interesting experience and I plan on doing it again. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. I love these inside reports!

Thanks!

[terryg11]

8. happy to give them

Caucus is fun in tht there's actual participation and everyone was really jazzed!! We got into some small debates trying to make them work for our vtes even though (for me at least) I was planning on going with Kerry if Kucinich didn't have the support

[LizW]

7. Thank you for the report

I am amazed by the whold caucus procedure. How do they identify everyone coming in? Do you have to show ID and prove your residency?

[terryg11]

9. Good Point

I wanted to mention this. They have all the registered democrats for that precint on a printout and you just had to sign next to your name. only problem was, there were a good handful of people there who have lived in town for many years and are registered democrats yet they weren't on the list. In that case you just had to sign another frm stating your information and tht you either were a regstered dem or knew tht on signing the sheet were now a registered dem. I had to sign the latter since I was an independent.

It felt kind of funny though tht so many registered dems didn't show up on their sheeets, though, no? echos of Florda 2000 anyone?

[LizW]

10. Thanks

Interesting that some Dems weren't on the list, but at least they got to participate. It would be bad news if they were turned away.

Another question if you will humor me: since you signed the sheet to become a registered Dem, are you a Dem forever more? Or just until the general election? Or can you go back to being an Independent at will?

[terryg11]

11. I hve to double check

but I'm almost positive that I can now go back to independent status in time for the general election if I want to.

[Bluzmann57]

13. Yes you can go back to Independent status

I know this because until tonight, I was registered as an independent and I asked that very question. I was told that yes, I can re-register as an independent. Tomorrow if I so choose. And was this your first caucus? It was mine.

[terryg11]

15. was my first

almost sad it's over. wonder what this was like in bigger areas where a larger turnout could have occurred, maybe des moines or iowa city ( sorry for the no caps).

[Nadienne]

21. The same happened to me

and a number of others in my precinct. I had been registered independent, but my boyfriend had been registered democrat, though he suspects there may have been a little foul play in that. He registered at the DMV, and the lady who did it was friendly with him until she learned he intended to register as a democrat...

But no one was turned away.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Thanks so much for taking time to report from your caucus, terryg11.

It was really interesting and well written. Especially like hearing about the former Republican mayor speaking so persuasively for John Kerry.

[Eurobabe]

14. cool thanks for sharing!

you'll always remember how the wave that took down Bu$h started!!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Thanks for the report

that is illuminating about the mayor's husband. I really think Kerry has the ability to lead through inspiration, and can bring a lot of folks from 'the other side' to support him. And you don't have to be a Democrat to be outraged at what's happening to our country, I bet there are many folks who disagree with us on a host of issues, who will vote to oust Bush if they have faith in the man who's replacing him.

[Zero Division]

17. Report from a Bettendorf precinct caucus

144 people showed up from my precinct, which is probably best described as middle class and upper class suburbanites. Immediately upon arriving I could see that Kerry was going to make an impressive and surprising showing. They were very well prepared for caucusing, to the extent of even having a film screen for showing a video of the Fire Fighters for Kerry rally.

Two other big surprises occurred, as well. Gephardt did not even gain viability. He ended up with about 15 supporters, which was 7 shy of the number required for viability. There was also apparently a very large turnout of Independents and Republicans who registered as Democrats.

In the end those who did not support a candidate with viability were mostly split into supporting Kerry or Edwards. After it was clear that Kerry had plenty of supporters, the Edwards section let up a cheer as we Clark supporters announced our collective move over to their section to make sure Edwards could get an extra delegate.

The final breakdown was: Kerry - 3 delegates, Dean - 2 delegates, and Edwards - 2 delegates.

[terryg11]

18. did you talk to any of the republicans?

why were they there, switching parties, to be part of the process or to disrupt?

Are you sure your delegate count is correct? I thought you could only send five total?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

20. more proof Independents and Republicans will support Kerry

thanks to both you and the original poster for these reports.

[Justice]

19. Great Report

I really like hearing about the high turnout - that makes me feel great about November.

I also like hearing about the former republican - we are happy to have as many votes as possible.

[Nadienne]

22. My precinct in Sioux City

had 113 attendees. Needed 17 to be viable. My Kucinich group was 8 people. Edwards had 8, but lost some before we could group together. Gephart had a few; I think for the most part they joined Kerry. We (the remaining Edwards and us Kucinichs) tried to form an Uncommitted group, but I think for the most part everyone just wanted it to get over. We started late, waiting for everyone to sign in and all that. Not a lot of time was spent discussing candidates. It was (for me at least) more frustrating than fun. Kerry ended up with 82 people - 7 delegats, Dean with 31, 3 delegates.

But I'm glad other people had fun.