Jan 29, 2008 11:11 pm US/Central
Good Question: Why Do We Caucus?
(WCCO)
While many states are preparing for primary elections, in Minnesota, state law sets up a system of caucuses.
Since the early days of Minnesota's statehood, caucuses have been used to select delegates to nominating conventions. The state has held presidential primaries four times, but the experiments have not stuck, even though turnout at primaries has been significantly higher than turnout at caucuses.
During the 2004 Presidential campaign, approximately 56,000 Minnesota DFL supporters came to caucus and 25,000 Minnesota Republicans caucused, according to the respective parties. That adds up to approximately 2.2 percent of eligible voters.
The last major presidential primary was in 1956. According to the Secretary of State, 640,328 people cast ballots, which was 33 percent of eligible voters.
However, according to former Minnesota DFL party Chair Rick Stafford, that election infuriated political party leaders, because DFL voters surprised them. Leaders wanted Adlai Stevenson to win but the voters picked Estes Kefauver.
"The party leaders to be decided, well we need to change that so we have a little more control of the outcome," said Stafford. "In any process, there's a sense that you can manipulate it when it's a smaller subset. There are some people who see they I have more influence, I can have more control over the process if the numbers are smaller."
The DFL and GOP have changed their caucus process, so people don't have to sit through the entire hours-long meeting. Now, voters can come in at any time after 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 to cast a ballot and leave.
"The totality of the caucuses is party business," said Stafford, although he acknowledged that his position on caucuses has changed over time. "There are benefits."
Mainly, that candidates have to have a good organization to get voters to come out and caucus, and they have to prove themselves using "retail politics" rather than only using media appearances. Plus, many people like the grass-roots, small town feel of gathering in a room and discussing the issues.
In 1992, Minnesota tested a presidential primary election, although it was non-binding. According to the Secretary of State's office, 338,995 Minnesotans voted, which was a total of 10.4 percent of eligible voters.
According to Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute, the primary didn't stick around because supporters of the caucus system were far more dedicated and vocal.
However, Stafford said the presidential election process has changed, and now the parties need to get more people involved in the candidate selection process.
"Maybe what we do is a mixture. In presidential years we have a primary, and still have the caucus on the same day," he said.
As for the current system: "It just doesn't make sense. But political parties don't always make sense," he laughed.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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