The Iowa Caucuses have been an evolving phenomenon. The first “new” caucus in 1972 got no attention from the media and the “winners – “uncommitted” and Edmund Muskie – went nowhere BUT the third place finish senator George McGovern got the Democratic nomination. That created the story that if you come in 1, 2 OR 3 in Iowa you can get the nomination of your party.
The news media, always looking for a good story with a beginning, middle, and end found the Iowa Presidential caucuses to be a good story. Then an unknown Georgia governor Jimmy Carter came to Iowa, made a name for himself by meeting people face-to-face, winning the caucuses, nomination and then became president. That created the legend that an unknown can make it in Iowa because it’s an inexpensive and friendly place. The Republicans and Democrats joined forces and decided to caucus on the same night making it VERY user friendly for the national and international news media. In 1992, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin ran for president, won Iowa in a landslide as the “hometown boy” but in doing so made those caucuses irrelevant nationally. On the Democratic Party side the victory by Barak Obama in 2008 ended the criticism that Iowa is too white to be first in the nation.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan came in second in Iowa but went on to win the nomination and the election proving that in Iowa you CAN come in second or third and succeed nationally. George H. W. Bush did the same in 1988 coming in third in Iowa.
In 2008, the Iowa caucuses were stretched to the limit when Arizona Senator John McCain did not campaign in Iowa but came in tied for third (it was called “fourth”) but got the party nomination anyway.
The year 2012 was exciting and interesting because Mitt Romney was declared the winner but it turns out some Republican votes were not counted and Rick Santorum was declared the winner some weeks later. This triggered anxiety about the value of the caucuses but the Republican Party initiated changes that will make future reporting more accurate.
Every four years the caucuses are an exciting testing ground for those wanting to compete for their party’s nomination to run for president. They are a media event and so much more.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interviews in this course are of the participants. This course, including the instructor, does not endorse any political party, candidate or ideology.
Week 2: Digging into Caucuses, Section 3 Week 2: Digging into Caucuses, Section 5