Iowa Caucus Results

[Kirkendall 1st MRB]

Here in Iowa we had our regular 15 minutes of fame with the Presidential Caucus! If you don't know what that is, it's an event where registered party members vote for their preferred candidate. Only people who have registered as Republican or Democrat get to vote in these, however you can typically register to the party at the event itself. The idea is to narrow the candidate field so your party can rally entirely behind your candidate for president and the actual presidential election. That way, in the general election, you won't have democrats splitting votes between Bernie and Hillary or republicans splitting between 8 different candidates. The democrats and republicans have a different style of caucus, but I won't go into the specifics unless necessary.

The results are in:

Republican

Cruz - 8 delegates - 27.7%

Trump - 7 delegates - 24.3%

Rubio - 7 delegates - 23.1%

Carson - 3 delegates - 9.3%

Paul - 1 delegate - 4.5%

Bush - 1 delegate - 2.8%

Fiorina - 0 delegates - 1.9%

Kasich - 0 delegates - 1.9%

Huckabee - 0 delegates - 1.8%

Christie - 0 delegates - 1.8%

Santorum - 0 delegates - 1%

Gilmore - 0 delegates - 0%

Democrat

Hillary - 22 delegates - 49.9%

Sanders - 21 delegates - 49.6%

O'Malley - 0 delegates - 0.6%

Now that each candidate has received (or not) their delegates, the delegates will travel to either party's convention to vote for their candidate. It's all part of the election process in the United States. If you have any questions or want me to explain the process further, please ask. Not all states will caucus, some hold primaries, which are different while still the same. Which isn't meant to be confusing, it's just American politics.

Do you think these results are important? How did your candidate fair? Do you think the Iowa vote is important at all considering we only account for 1% of the total delegates?

I'm just glad the political phone calls are ended. I was keeping tally, the average was 32 calls per day.

[Lafy BAR]

Hopefully some more of the Republican candidates take this opportunity to drop out.

[Gilmore 1st MRB]

I think these results are important. I am a huge Bernie supporter. I think this was another step in legitimizing him to other Dems and some Republicans. I have very mixed beliefs and genuinely believe he is the right candidate for the job. His track record has been fantastic and he has generally not changed his attitude for the last 40 years.

[Peaker]

I'm also a Bernie fan, but from an outside perspective, this is a very confusing system. What does this mean in effect on who will win the Democratic nomination? How is the final candidate chosen? Is the result pretty much a foregone conclusion?

Edited February 2, 2016 by Peaker 1st MRB

[Kirkendall 1st MRB]

What does this mean in effect on who will win the Democratic nomination? How is the final candidate chosen? Is the result pretty much a foregone conclusion?

Very little really. What it best shows is a general interest level of the nation. For the Democrats, Iowa has predicted the last 6/8 nominees; while two have gone on to be president, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. Bill Clinton is the only president who has ever lost both Iowa and (the next state to go) New Hampshire and continued on to win the presidency.

What's it all mean? Well, the Democrats use a system of 4,047 delegates including 794 "superdelegates". To win the Democratic nomination and have the full support of the party for the presidential election, They need to have the majority of delegates and/or superdelegates support them at the Democratic National Convention. Delegates are given out by a state in order to show support for a particular candidate. For example, in Iowa, Hillary got 22 delegates, so she is the frontrunner. Long way to go for that 4,047! "Superdelegates" are members of the democratic party who hold special titles. Usually governors, senators, congresspeople, the like. They are not committed to any candidate before the DNC, and will vote however they so choose. Some will choose to show support for candidates beforehand though, and that's OK. To be completely clear, normal delegates are actually not committed to candidates either, they just know how their district feels and should support the candidate their district supports.

So the shorter version: Candidates receive delegates from district votes within states. Iowa holds roughly 1% of the total delegates that will be given. The candidates seek to win the majority of delegates at the DNC, which will be held later.

It's worth saying that the complexity of this is due to the parties which are not technically essential to the election process in the United States. It just falls to us now for having a two party system. It's also worth saying, the Republicans use a similar system, albeit with less delegates and no "superdelegates." Although there is a definite equivalency to pledged and unpledged delegates.

Clinton did win the Iowa caucus, don't let yourself be fooled. The demographic in Iowa is the bread and butter of the Sanders' campaign and it's troubling he could not pull a win. Sanders will win New Hampshire for sure, but I question his ability to win the Bible Belt and southern states.

[Peaker]

Thank you, that was very informative and I now understand a lot better how everything kinda fits in. Another question if you don't mind, how are these delegates chosen? And I assume "superdelegates" get the title as soon as they achieve one of the special positions? (Governor, Congressman etc...)

[Kirkendall 1st MRB]

Superdelegates are chosen by a special committee of chairpeople of the Democratic National Committee. Delegates are chosen roughly the same way, people are given the title after a working with/for the DNC. It's all kept within party, as it is a party vote system. A person who has a lot of influence on this currently is someone like Debbie Wasserman, for example.

Also as an interesting tidbit, in the Iowa caucus last night some people decided to determine the winner between Hillary and Bernie with coin tosses. But Bernie's happy:

[Peaker]

So basically it all comes down to how much influence/personal connections you have with these committees? As opposed to a vote amongst party members?

That's funny by the way! The result was hilariously tight, but if what you say is true and Iowa is Bernie's demographics, I worry about what will happen in the rest of the country. Not that I have a big stake in the whole thing, I just like a lot of his ideas, whereas Clinton seems like your average bread and butter politician.

[J. Hill]

When it comes down to the vote though, by the people, Hillary will win. She has all the dead people who voted for Obama voting for her now.

[Peaker]

http://www.thebeaverton.com/national/item/...cording-to-plan

Meanwhile, our shadowy plans proceed without a hitch.

[Ultranator BAR]

Also as an interesting tidbit, in the Iowa caucus last night some people decided to determine the winner between Hillary and Bernie with coin tosses. But Bernie's happy:

To clear it up, not the individual voters, but 6 separate counties were decided by coin toss. All 6 went to Clinton.

[Ultranator BAR]

When it comes down to the vote though, by the people, Hillary will win. She has all the dead people who voted for Obama voting for her now.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp...n-ballots-cast/

Voter fraud sounds more like republican scare tactics to force poor people to not have a voice, but I'm sure you have some proof of dead people voting other than the classic Chris Farley film Black Sheep.

Also, I'd like to add that I think myself a conservative as well as a fan of Chris Farley films.

[Barry 1st MRB]

I just heard Rand Paul dropped out.

[Gilmore 1st MRB]

I'll also add that those who don't think Bernie can win aren't considering all the obstacles he has already tackled along the way. Including many "bi-partisan" votes and bills.