Experienced caucus-goers; please describe the experience and strategy

[IDemo]

Although I have voted in every election since '76, I have never participated in a caucus. Frankly, up until this year, it has seemed something that only Democratic Party 'wonks' are inclined to bother with. I'm considering attending ours for the first time on "Super Tuesday" but don't know if I want to show up if I'm only going to be looked at as a pawn on the chessboard to be nudged around the room by the Truly Wonkish.

I'm assuming the process is a little more interactive than members of the various camps huddling together and singing 'kumbiah'. Is everyone expected to drift around trying to recruit hesitant looking people at the fringes of competing groups, or is this something only delegated members of each camp do? As an Edwards supporter, I feel fairly comfortable I can describe his positions. There is zero chance that I could be persuaded to move over to the Clinton camp, and little chance of moving towards Obama, but the Obama folks here do seem to be highly motivated and organized.

Thanks for any replies.

[wellstone dem]

1. It is very exciting, I urge you to go

At least it is exciting if lots of people attend, if not, everyone who wants to get to be a delgate,is one.

But if there are lots more people than delegates, then it gets good.

So-- Sub caucuses are announced. Richardson--Edwards--Obama--Clinton--Undecided

If there are 150 people and the precinct gets 10 delegates, each camp will need 15 people to get one delegate.

So if the initial count goes Richardson 12--Edwards--60--Obama--45--Clinton--33

Richardson's subcaucus is not viable so either they have to find more delegates or go elsewhere.
It can go two ways, SAy, they all move to Edwards. Edwards will have 72 Obama 45 and Clinton 33
delegate distribution 5 3 2

Edwards gets the extra delegate because he has the highest remainder.

So the Clinton caucus might have been smarter to send their extra 3 delegates to Richardson to keep Edwards or Obama from getting the extra delegate. Of course if all or most of the Richardson delegates were going to go to the CLinton camp, that caucus is better off holding on to their full 33.

It's very interesting to watch and to see the strategy

[IDemo]

3. Thanks, wellstone

It's tough to think of any Dem as being branded 'not viable' this year. Any single one of them would put us light years ahead of where we are now.

Is there an active effort to recruit members of different camps, or are people simply moved around to gain the best strategic advantage? Do I need to memorize all of my candidate's votes and positions to argue for him (or defend against recruitment by other camps)?

[wellstone dem]

5. I think it is valuable to know your candidates positions

especially if you think you will see people you know. It's easiest to "lobby" folks you know with facts. I also try to know my second choice's position, in case I'm in a nonviable caucus and want everyone to move with me to another candidate.

[Matariki]

2. You're lucky. My state dropped caucuses a while back. I really enjoyed them.

I don't know if each state does them differently, but when we had them here you were assigned to a table based on your address. I think it was randomized so you weren't just sitting with your next door neighbors.

People discussed/voted on the candidates, issues for the party platform, and picked a person from the table to act as a delegate to deliver the results of the table's vote.

It was a great experience. You get a much more visceral sense of participation. I'm very disappointed we went to primaries.

[IDemo]

4. Thank you, kineta. I'm looking forward to it.

I did find this, in an article from the Spokesman Review:

» Here's how Idaho's Democratic caucuses work:

» •Anyone willing to pledge to support a particular Democratic candidate – and not to participate in any other party's nominating process for that year's presidential election – can participate. Seventeen-year-olds can participate if they'll be 18 by the Nov. 4 general election.

» •Participants gather in a big room in each county and huddle into groups by the candidate they support, or they can choose "uncommitted." Then, each group has a representative give a speech to try to persuade others to join. People switch groups, and then the votes are tallied up.

» •Idaho's 23 delegates are divided proportionally based on the results; a candidate must get at least 15 percent of the support to secure a delegate.

» John Foster, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party, said, "A caucus is the best example of living, breathing democracy you'll ever see. It's loud and boisterous and kinda messy, but a hell of a lot of fun."

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/idaho/story.asp?ID=220766

(It would also appear from the above article that unless Edwards and Clinton supporters show up in force, there may be a blowout win for Obama here.)