About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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IOWA CAUCUS

January 2nd, 2008 • Richard Cochrane
 

Iowa WinCraft NCAA 3' x 5' FlagIowa’s major political parties have held caucuses every two years since becoming a state in 1846, except for a short period, in 1913, when the Legislature established a primary election for presidential nominees. The primary was held April 10, 1916. The state went back to a caucus system after only 25 percent of registered voters participated in that primary. Since 1972, the Iowa caucus has been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States.

In 1972 a Senator George McGovern’s campaign guru engineered Iowa’s first in the nation position – assured by a state law – and McGovern ‘slingshoted’ around Ed Muskie to become the Democrat nominee initially based on his 2nd place finish in Iowa. In 1976 Jimmy Carter came in 2nd to “uncommitted” and was dragged by it to the Democrat nomination and his one term stay in the White House. In 1980 H. W. Bush defeated Ronald Reagan in
Iowa for the Republican nomination winding up an 8 year VP and one term President.

Today Iowans will caucus and decide, on a party basis, who will represent the Democrat and Republican parties as their nominees for President. While it will not be decisive the results will likely sort out the field and maybe eliminate a couple back benchers. But this year is unique since most candidates will be able to find some hope to stick it out until February’s Super Duper Tuesday that will very likely decide who are the nominees.

Whoever does well in Iowa and
New Hampshire will get a fund raising bump. Clinton and Obama have raised over $100 million each; and Ron Paul has amassed $20 million in 4 months from a narrow base others are not talking until they must report on January 31st. A weak finish for Giuliani in
Iowa will likely cost him his front runner status. There have been an average of ONE THOUSAND political ads broadcast in
Iowa every day. One thing is for sure - by tomorrow you will be submerged in post-Iowa speculation.

My bets are ROMNEY – HUCKABEE – MCCAIN, and OBAMA – EDWARDS –
CLINTON.

Caucus is first seen in 1763, and likely added to American.English perhaps from caucauasu “counselor” in the Algonquian dialect of
Virginia. The Caucus Club of Boston, a 1760s social & political club whose name possibly derived from Modern Greek kaukos “drinking cup” or both. The Club may be derived from the Nordic Mead hall where men met, drank fermented honey and discussed political issues, and generally the last standing won the point rendering it “moot.”

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