Jan 9, 2008 8:06 am US/Central
How To Prepare For Minn. Caucuses
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ―
As we process the results of the New Hampshire primary, it's time of us to turn our attention to Super Tuesday, the day that primaries and caucuses will be held in nearly two dozen states.
It's less than four weeks from now: Feb. 5.
Precinct caucuses are the first step used by Minnesota's major political parties to select the candidates and issues they will support in the 2008 elections.
The DFL, the Republican, and the Independence parties are all holding their caucuses on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. The Independents are holding virtual caucuses, meaning they will be conducted online.
The process resembles what we just saw in Iowa last week -- large groups of folks getting together in neighborhood meeting spots.
Next month's caucuses are open to the public, but you have to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 4, 2008 election.
Each caucus will select a certain number of delegates. Those delegates elected that night will take part in the party's county or district convention. Many will continue on to the congressional district and state convention.
To find the location of your precinct caucus, you'll have to call your county auditor or your political party.
Already we are seeing groups holding training sessions to get ready for the Minnesota caucuses. One was held Tuesday night in Minneapolis by OutFront Minnesota and the Human Rights Campaign. Those two groups are planning more training sessions across the state specifically centered on gay rights.
Also we learned last week that it looks like either Hillary Clinton or former president Bill Clinton will be making a campaign stop in Minnesota before Super Tuesday. Other candidates may announce their plans to come here as well in the next few weeks.
Minnesota has 88 Democratic convention delegates on the line, making us a moderate-sized state among the nearly two dozen states involved. The others include New York, Illinois, New Jersey and California.
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