What are Primaries and Caucuses Anyway?



Most individuals know that politicians have what are called primaries and caucuses but few know what they really are. With the guidance of Frank D. Scott Jr., who is a Policy Advisor/Analyst at the Governor’s Office in Arkansas, and Marshawn Wolley, who is the President of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus (IDAAC) and the Crime Prevention Liaison in the Mayor’s Office in Indianapolis, IN, Engage Diversity will give a synopsis of these two important political components.

Primaries are party-wide elections. A caucus is a meeting of party members that include an election. The United States have two main political parties—Republicans and Democrats. Each party holds state-wide primaries or caucuses to choose which candidate they would like their state delegates to cast a vote for during their party convention. These primaries and caucuses range from January to June with a majority being held on “Super Tuesday,” which is February 5, 2008.

Primaries are for the public at large. A primary includes anyone who meets the states rules for voting in each respective party's primary. Individuals usually pick which primary they will participate in. A primary determines who represents the party in the general election.

In a caucus only precinct committee persons can vote. Thus, a caucus is technically a closed meeting for individuals who are members of the party. Each state has rules for defining who can participate in a caucus.

Slating convention is the first election in the process. Slating is when a party's precinct committee persons vote to determine who will be the official candidate of the party in the primary. A candidate can lose slating but win the primary at which point they become the candidate to represent the party in the general election. The current system is stacked against independent parties as they have to reach voter turnout thresholds to even get on the ballot.

Iowa caucuses are special because they are the first tests for Presidential candidates and establish momentum for the rest of the presidential primaries. Wolley says that New Hampshire historically has a better track record for predicting who will actually win the respective party nominations.

Let’s use the Democratic Party and Iowa as an example. Barack Obama won 38% of the Iowa Caucus, John Edwards won 30%, and Hillary Clinton won 29%. As a result, Obama takes 38% of the Iowa Democratic Convention Delegate Strength. This means if Iowa had 50 delegates, Obama would take 38% or roughly 19 of the votes for the Democratic nomination. In short, this is the same blueprint for the entirety of the primary/caucus season and process.

Immediately after Super Tuesday, Democrats will participate in the Democratic Convention nomination process, which is held in Denver, CO this year. This event is like the Super bowl; this game is the climax of the season. Serious decisions are made that impact the manner in which the Democratic Party will proceed. For example, the delegates that were directed by their constituency to vote on behalf of a particular candidate can change their mind on nomination day. Also, candidates who consistently came in second or third place and garnered some substantial percentages can use their individual delegate strength to help out a more "electable" candidate. For instance, Edwards’ supporters from Iowa can use their delegate strength to help Obama or Clinton during nomination time. Taken together, we all play a roll in politics and who is elected President.

At this point in time, it is quite possible that an African American or a woman could be President of United States of America. Although Scott is clear that he has not officially decided who he will support for the Democratic nomination, he states that Obama is the epitome of Martin Luther King's dream. A dream that we as nation can look past race and gender and judge each other based on character, intelligence, integrity, morals, and values.

2008 Political Conspiracy Theory
Obama won Iowa. Let’s say that hypothetically he wins in New Hampshire by a smidgen, and subsequently changes the mindset of Blacks in South Carolina who feel obligated to show Bill Clinton gratitude by supporting Hillary Clinton. This could also go the other way and Hillary Clinton wins the next two important states. Thereafter, it is any candidates’ game. However, as previously stated, the real game begins in Denver. Still, Obama and/or Hillary, as a Black and woman candidate, respectively, could win all of the primaries/caucuses and still get to Denver and lose because other politicians may believe that neither of them is "electable" during the general, national election against a Conservative Republican candidate. Collectively, this means that Edwards could potentially gain the nomination because the Democratic Party believes that a Southern, white man is better suited to compete against the Republican Party. Scott says that he hopes this does not arise because the United States is in dire need of restoration, hope, change, economic stability, and foreign relations reconciliation. Let the people speak and may the best person win.

Marshawn Wolley says that individuals interested in gaining more knowledge and information on this topic can attend an event held by IDAAC on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10am in Indianapolis, IN on the 7th floor of the Julia Carson Building. Wolley says if you are tired of talking to the same group of people and having the same political fights, want to know why certain candidates are doing better than others, and/or don't really know anything but want to, this event is for you. Come out, listen, learn, and interact with people who care about the future of America.

IDAAC is encouraging members who are precinct committee persons to vote during the Caucus on January 12th. They will have their first official meeting on January 26th at the Julia Carson building at 10am and will accept membership dues of $25 and the suggested $100 for elected officials on January 12th and Jan 26th. The Indiana Democratic African American Caucus is the premier grassroots organization for promoting positive public policy, creating broad alliances, and getting African Americans elected.