What does this ajc quote about cell-phones being used mean?

[madfloridian]

SNIP...."Bill Carrick, one of Gephardt's advisers, said a Gephardt win is important in stopping Dean, or at least slowing him down. So other presidential hopefuls may be willing to throw last-minute support to Gephardt in the caucuses. The Gephardt campaign has even floated the idea of the non-Dean campaigns using cellphones to coordinate voting within the caucuses. "Every one of them needs us to win," Carrick said....."

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0104/02dems.html

[quinnox]

1. From what I have read

The Iowa caucuses are unusual, where you stand up and say who you support, and then others can try to convince you otherwise. And if a candidate doesn't get a certain percentage of support, then those candidates supporters can switch to a different candidate. So cell phones could be used to coordinate friendly candidates supporters, like for example, Kerry and Clark.

[madfloridian]

2. Oh, that really sounds like fun.

:hi:

[bearfartinthewoods]

14. it means the enemy of my enemy is my friend

in iowa..

[farmbo]

3. This is the equivalent of an electronic smoke- filled room.

Gep and the others will monitor the first counties' caucus votes and then communicate (conspire?!) with the other campaigns to steer other candidate's votes to Gephardt and away from Dean. Eg Lieberman and Clark votes will go to Gephardt. Even Kerry might have to bite the bullet and send votes to Gephardt so he can keep fighting into NH.

[Toot]

4. That sounds really shady to me.

If a certain candidate can't get enough votes for himself without scheming, then they shouldn't be the nominee. Plain and simple.

[bitchkitty]

5. Basically, it means

that Dick Gephardt is a weasely conniving little twat.

[bhunt70]

6. hahahaha

that, and your name and pic/avatar, brought a smile to my face.

[Lobo_13]

7. The basics of the IA caucus

People show up at the caucus site and the meeting is called to order @ 6:30 sharp. Then the precinct chair is elected (usu. the temp chair). Then the rules are read. Then everyone is asked to break up into preference groups, which will be gathering in different parts of the room.

The candidate totals are tallied and any candidate with less than 15% of the total is not viable. They get the opportunity to realign with another candidate. This goes on until all remaining candidates are viable.

Then some math is applied and delegate apportionment is determined, each preference group elects their county delegates, everyone shakes hands and then set to work on the precinct platform.

Fun fact, the precinct caucus on the 19th is only the beginning of the Iowa caucus process. In March, the county caucus convenes and all of the delegates from the precinct caucus can vote for whoever they want. This is often used as an enticement to non-viable candidates. If you come to stand with us, we'll let your guy have a delegate at county.

Will the cell phone thing work? In a word, No. There will be almost 1,100 precincts holding caucus at the same time across the state. It is logistically impossible to coordinate something like this on the spot. The Gep campaign would have to contact at least 2,200 people in the half hour that it usually takes to bring the matter to a close.

Can they do it before hand? Sure, but if the Kerry group AND the Gephardt group are viable, it's unlikely that they will break up and reassemble. And either way, that's alot of people to give marching orders too. I don't see either candidate willing to fall on his sword for the benefit of the other.

[oasis]

8. A thanks and a kick for a most informative post.

[Jerseycoa]

9. I tell you

It's almost worth moving to Iowa for :)

It's neat.

[Lobo_13]

10. You could always come volunteer for Dean this month

He's pulling in volunteers from all over to do voter outreach.

Then you, too, can experience the joy of getting people to go out to the local high school on a cold January night to sit around for three hours.

[maddezmom]

13. interesting read

:kick:

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks for a good post, and a question.

This part makes it sound like it is an unending process there in Iowa....that even if someone wins it in January it could change in March? Geez, my nerves won't take it.

QUOTE:..."Fun fact, the precinct caucus on the 19th is only the beginning of the Iowa caucus process. In March, the county caucus convenes and all of the delegates from the precinct caucus can vote for whoever they want. This is often used as an enticement to non-viable candidates. If you come to stand with us, we'll let your guy have a delegate at county...."

Good post.

[oasis]

11. kick for post #7

[Green4Dean]

12. Kerry needs a third place finish

Kerry is going to be fighting the Gephardt, Dean camps for any campaign that doesn't get to 15%...Kucinich will try too...the other campaigns don't have the organizations on the ground to coordinate anything like that.

I have worked on Iowa campaigns in the past and Gephardt and Deans camps will be so far ahead of the rest because of their union support that I think it will be a two team race for the top, and Kerry will struggle to get to 15% with the help of the firefighters union and they will pick up most of the leftovers.

Their strongest argument will be that they are better partners. All the camps below 15 would be swallowed up at the county by the front two. The coalition will be among the other 7 since there is no way Gephardt or dean would give them a delegate at the county since they really don't need them. especially after winning other states...the county convention will be a mad rush to the front runner anyway.

i saw that one year in nevada...Jerry brown won the caucus but bill Clinton had more delegates after the county and state conventions.

[Renew Deal]

16. There are 2 things going on here.

One is they think that beating Dean is a good thing. I am not sure. It sure makes his support look like phantom support. But it keeps Gephardt around. I don't know if it would weaken Dean enough to matter. And keeping Gep around isn't great either. Hew is going to run out of money by Feb. 7.