Civics question---why Iowa??

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Why is the Iowa Caucus so important again? I can never remember...nor do I really understand the caucus.

People drop like flies from seeking the Presidential nomination once they start...why is that? Leaves no suspense for the conventions--just the pat on the back votes for the one left standing.




edited to fix title

 

[challada]

Iowa is EARLY is the only reason it's important in the caucus "ring"...it's not big, it's not radical, it's not much...but it's the FIRST or one of the patch of FIRSTS.

I was in grad school in Iowa during a presidential election year and wondered what the bleep all these candidates were doing coming to IOWA.

 

[bicker]

What's even more remarkable is that the Iowa Caucus has only been first since 1976. It remains a pretty sketchy proposition, rather than a true traditional bellweather for an election.

By contrast, the New Hampshire Primary is considered the "opening gun" of the election and has been since 1952.