>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL
PRESENTATION OF THE BIG TEN
NETWORK, PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, ON CAUCUS NIGHT, PEOPLE
GET UP OUT OF THEIR LIVING
ROOMS.
THEY DRIVE DOWN TO THE LOCAL
SCHOOL OR TO A PUBLIC BUILDING
OF SOME TYPE, WALK IN, AND, AT
LEAST THIS TIME AROUND, WHAT
THEY PROBABLY ENCOUNTERED WERE
HUGE LINES...
>> I JUST NEED TO CHANGE MY
PARTY.
>> ...BECAUSE THEY HAD TO SIGN
IN, AND TWICE AS MANY DEMOCRATS
SHOWED UP AS WERE PREDICTED OR
AT LEAST AS SHOWED UP LAST TIME,
AND THE REPUBLICANS ALSO HAD A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN TURNOUT.
>> PERFECT?
>> PERFECT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
>> I'M GONNA HAVE YOU THROW ONE
OUT.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR
WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION,
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE...
>> THE REPUBLICANS AND THE
DEMOCRATS DO IT A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENTLY.
THE REPUBLICANS' CAUCUS IS A
LITTLE BIT MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD.
YOU GET IN, YOU TAKE CARE OF A
LITTLE BIT OF PARTY BUSINESS
RIGHT AT THE FRONT, AND THEN
PEOPLE STAND UP AND TALK ON
BEHALF OF THEIR CANDIDATES, AND
THEN THEY HAVE A VOTE.
>> I GUESS THE STRONGEST THING
WITH JOHN McCAIN IS PROBABLY HIS
DEFENSE.
HE KNOWS OUR COUNTRY.
HE KNOWS THE WAR ON TERROR.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
TO COME OUT AND CALL THEM
ISLAMIST TERRORISTS, I GUESS,
OR ISLAMIST...
I THINK, EXTREMISTS.
OUR PRESIDENT STILL DOESN'T CALL
THEM THAT.
>> AND IT'S, IN THAT SENSE,
PRETTY MUCH LIKE A REGULAR VOTE
THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN A
PRIMARY, ALTHOUGH WE WRITE A
PERSON'S NAME ON A BALLOT.
SOMETIMES, IF IT'S A SMALLER
PRECINCT OR IF THE PRECINCT
CHAIRMAN IS A LITTLE MORE
ORGANIZED, YOU MIGHT HAVE A
PRINTED BALLOT, BUT NORMALLY YOU
JUST VOTE, YOU COUNT THEM UP,
AND THEN THAT'S IT.
YOU GO ON TO OTHER PARTY
BUSINESS.
>> MIKE HUCKABEE.
RON PAUL.
JOHN McCAIN.
>> I THINK IT WAS IN '96 WAS MY
FIRST ONE, WHERE IT TOOK US
THREE HOURS TO FINISH ALL OF OUR
BUSINESS.
AFTER WE HAD THE
PRESIDENTIAL-PREFERENCE POLL, WE
WENT ON TO THE DELEGATES AND
SELECTING MEMBERS FOR THE COUNTY
CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND THEN
PLATFORM PLANKS, AND THAT WAS
THE ONE THAT USUALLY TAKES A
LONG TIME, BECAUSE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE THEN WANT TO SUBMIT
THINGS, AND PEOPLE WANT TO
DISCUSS THEM.
YOU HAVE A VOTE.
YOU MAY HAVE TO TINKER WITH THE
LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT TO GET IT
TO A POINT WHERE AT LEAST THE
MAJORITY AGREES WITH IT.
AND WE WENT THROUGH THAT THIS
YEAR VERY, VERY QUICKLY, AND SO
I WAS AMAZED THAT WITH THE LARGE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD, WE
STILL GOT THROUGH VERY, VERY
FAST.
>> ROMNEY GOT 7.
RON PAUL -- 10.
JOHN McCAIN -- 8.
MIKE HUCKABEE -- 8.
NO VOTES FOR ANY OTHER
CANDIDATES.
>> CAUCUSES ARE A VERY LONG AND
COMPLICATED PROCESS WHERE YOU'RE
GONNA SPEND AN HOUR OR TWO ON
ONE EVENING, AND THERE'S NO
ABSENTEE BALLOTING.
THERE'S NO WAY TO RECORD A
PREFERENCE EXCEPT BY COMING TO
THE CAUCUS MEETING ON THAT NIGHT
AT THAT TIME, AND IF YOU'RE NOT
THERE WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE THERE,
THEN YOU DON'T GET TO
PARTICIPATE.
SO CAUCUSES ARE A MUCH MORE
DEMANDING METHOD OF EXPRESSING A
PREFERENCE THAN A PRIMARY.
THAT'S WHY MOST STATES HAVE
PRIMARIES.
>> A PRIMARY -- THE DIFFERENCE
IS IT'S AN ACTUAL ELECTION, SO
IT'S EXACTLY LIKE A GENERAL
ELECTION IN THE WAY THAT IT
HAPPENS.
SO YOU GO TO YOUR POLLING PLACE,
YOU GO INTO THE VOTING BOOTH,
YOU PULL YOUR LEVER OR, YOU
KNOW, PUNCH YOUR BUTTON OR
WHATEVER, AND THAT'S HOW YOU DO
IT, SO IT'S SECRET BALLOT.
THE CAUCUS -- THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE IS IT'S NOT SECRET.
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN
AND YOU'RE PUTTING IN A STRAW
POLL, PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE
PUTTING IN.
AND FOR THE DEMOCRATS, IT'S
EXTREMELY UNSECRET.
>> DEMOCRATS HAVE A
15%-THRESHOLD RULE, WHICH MEANS
IF YOUR CANDIDATE HAS LESS THAN
15%, YOU HAVE TO REORIENT
YOURSELF, AND SO THEY GO THROUGH
A REALIGNMENT PROCESS AND THEN
COUNT, AND ACCORDING TO THE
PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE IN EACH
PRECINCT, YOU GET A CERTAIN
NUMBER OF DELEGATES TO THE NEXT
CONVENTION.
>> THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA OFFERS
STUDENTS A WORLD-CLASS
EDUCATION.
FOR OVER 160 YEARS, WE'VE EARNED
OUR PLACE AMONG AMERICA'S GREAT
SCHOOLS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
>> I WAS A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE
ABOUT WALKING IN FOR THE FIRST
TIME TONIGHT.
AND I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF
ANYBODY I KNEW WAS WATCHING ME
COME IN, BUT PEOPLE HERE HAVE
BEEN SO GREAT, AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE PROCESS.
IT'S A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAN
THE REPUBLICANS.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE A LITTLE
MORE SEDATE IN THEIR
DELIBERATIONS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD
TURN A LITTLE RAUCOUS.
>> PRETTY MUCH, YOU GO INTO A
LARGE ROOM -- HOPEFULLY A LARGE
ROOM.
YOU SIT DOWN OR STAND UNDER THE
SIGN OF THE CANDIDATE THAT YOU
SUPPORT WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN
YOUR PRECINCT AND YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ALSO SUPPORT
THAT CANDIDATE.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY, THERE MIGHT BE
SOME COOKIES OR SOME COFFEE, OR
IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO GET
EVERYBODY SIGNED IN.
>> RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST A GREETER
AND A SHEPHERD, SO RIGHT NOW I'M
STANDING BY THE DOOR -- RIGHT.
WELL, I HAD TO COME IN, BUT I'M
STANDING BY THE DOOR AND JUST
TELLING PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE
GOING.
I'M TELLING EVERYBODY WHERE THEY
ARE.
BUT I'M TELLING THE EDWARDS
PEOPLE DEFINITELY COME THIS WAY.
I'M SO SORRY.
>> SORRY. CAN WE SNEAK IN?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NO PROBLEM.
I'M GLAD WE COULD GET THEM WHERE
THEY NEEDED TO GO.
>> OUR ATTENDANCE NUMBER IS 719.
>> THEN THE CAUCUS CHAIR CALLS
IT ALL TO ORDER, AND THE FIRST
THING AFTER TAKING CARE OF SOME
PARTY BUSINESS, LIKE ASKING FOR
MONEY, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A
CAUCUS WITHOUT ASKING FOR MONEY,
YOU GO ON TO THE
PRESIDENTIAL-PREFERENCE PROCESS.
>> THEN AT THIS TIME, YOU NEED
TO MOVE TO YOUR PREFERENCE
GROUP.
>> FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THE
PREFERENCE PROCESS INCLUDES
LITERALLY GETTING UP AND MOVING,
SOMETHING VERY HARD TO DO IN THE
REALLY CROWDED ROOMS SOMETIMES,
BUT IT'S GETTING UP AND MOVING
WHEN THE CAUCUS CHAIR SAYS TO
MOVE AND SENDS PEOPLE TO
DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE ROOM OR
TO OUT IN THE HALL OR TO A
DIFFERENT ROOM ENTIRELY SO THAT
YOU CAN BE COUNTED.
>> AS I COUNT YOU, DROP YOUR
HANDS, OKAY?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
>> AND THIS IS LITERALLY A
MATTER OF STANDING UP TO BE
COUNTED FOR YOUR CANDIDATE.
AT THAT POINT, SOMEONE WILL TRY
TO COUNT YOU, AND GIVEN THE
NUMBERS THAT OCCURRED ALL OVER
IOWA, THAT COUNTING PROCESS CAN
BE A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
BUT SOMEONE WILL TRY TO COUNT
YOU.
THEY WILL GET A FINAL COUNT.
ONCE THAT COUNT IS DONE AND
REPORTED, THE CAUCUS CHAIR WILL
INDICATE WHICH CANDIDATES ARE
VIABLE AND WHICH ARE NOT.
>> EDWARDS -- 159, VIABLE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
GRAVEL -- 1.
[ LAUGHTER ]
KUCINICH -- 46, NOT VIABLE.
>> HOW MANY WAS IT?
>> OBAMA -- 302.
>> VIABILITY, OF COURSE, SIMPLY
MEANS HAVING ENOUGH SUPPORTERS
THERE TO REACH THE MINIMUM
THRESHOLD, GENERALLY 15%, BUT
IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE HIGHER IN
SOME PRECINCTS.
THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE VIABLE,
LOTS OF CHEERS, LOTS OF
EXCITEMENT.
EVERYBODY'S THRILLED.
THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT
VIABLE, IT'S A LITTLE MORE OF A
CHALLENGE.
THEY HAVE TO START THINKING
ABOUT STRATEGY AT THAT POINT.
>> ...HAVE A PLAN THAT WE NEED
TO READDRESS AS A GROUP
BEFORE ANYBODY COMES IN.
>> YOU COME TALK TO US, AND
THAT'S THE OFFER WE HAVE ON THE
TABLE.
>> HERE'S A FACT.
EDWARDS, OBAMA -- THEY DON'T
NEED US.
THEY'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE THAN
THEY NEED.
>> THE NONVIABLE-CANDIDATE GROUP
CAN JUST TRY TO STAY TOGETHER
AND ATTRACT OTHER PEOPLE, TRY TO
ATTRACT OTHER CANDIDATE GROUPS
OR UNCOMMITTEDS OR EVEN PEOPLE
FROM THE VIABLE GROUPS TO JOIN
THEM TO MAKE THEM VIABLE.
OR THEY CAN END UP SPLITTING UP,
DISPERSING INDIVIDUALS JUST
WANDERING OFF TO DIFFERENT
CANDIDATES.
OR THEY CAN GO AS A GROUP AND
SAY, "LET'S JOIN ANOTHER
NONVIABLE GROUP, AND WE'LL BE
UNCOMMITTED TOGETHER."
>> UNVIABLE GROUPS ARE AGREEING
NOW, IF WE AGREE WITH THEM, TO
COME TOGETHER TO BE A HUGE
UNDECIDED.
>> UNCOMMITTED.
>> UNCOMMITTED -- I THINK IT'S
CALLED "UNDECIDED."
OKAY, AND SO IF WE STAND WITH
THE UNDECIDEDS, WE'LL ACTUALLY
HAVE DELEGATES, UNDECIDED
DELEGATES.
>> WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME
AND JOIN THE RICHARDSON PEOPLE.
>> SO, LET'S JUST DO A QUICK
STRAW POLL.
>> WE ALL KNEW THAT.
I BET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM KNEW THAT INVADING IRAQ WAS
A TERRIBLE IDEA, AND OBAMA WAS
THE ONLY ONE WHO SPOKE OUT AND
SAID, AT SOME POLITICAL RISK,
"THIS IS A VERY TERRIBLE IDEA.
YOU CAN'T DO THIS."
>> BUT THE REAL DYNAMICS, THE
REAL INTERESTING PART, ARE THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WANDERING AROUND,
TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO CHANGE
YOUR POSITION.
AS YOU STAND WITH THE NONVIABLE
GROUP, YOU WILL BE THE MOST
POPULAR PERSON IN THE ROOM FOR A
VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AS
EVERYBODY COMES BY AND SAYS,
"COME JOIN US. COME JOIN US.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO
THERE.
YOU WANT TO GO HERE."
>> WE'RE UNCOMMITTED RIGHT NOW,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE IN
THREE MINUTES.
>> COME AND JOIN OUR GROUP.
YEAH.
>> THE BOTTOM LINE, THOUGH, IS
IN ALL THIS STRATEGIZING, ALL
THIS RUNNING AROUND, THERE'S
ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF TIME IN
WHICH PEOPLE ARE MILLING ABOUT,
TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO DO, EATING MORE
SANDWICHES, EATING MORE COOKIES,
YOU KNOW, DRINKING SOME LEMONADE
OR COFFEE, AND, GENERALLY, CHAOS
REIGNS FOR A WHILE.
>> [ Chanting ] JOIN OBAMA!
[ CLAPPING RHYTHMICALLY ]
JOIN OBAMA!
[ CLAPPING RHYTHMICALLY ]
>> THE PRECINCT LEADERS ARE
TRYING TO KEEP THEIR FOLKS
TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY GROUPS
THAT ARE CLOSE TO VIABILITY.
>> SO, IF YOU ARE NOT INTO RANKS
OF 10, YOU NEED TO GET INTO IT.
>> FOR HOW LONG?
>> WELL, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE
WHILE.
BEING A DEMOCRAT STINKS.
>> I WATCHED IN A CAUCUS AS AN
EDWARDS-PRECINCT PERSON DID
EVERYTHING SHE COULD, SHORT OF
TYING ROPES AROUND THE GROUP, TO
KEEP THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE SO
THEY WOULDN'T LOSE ANYONE.
THEY WERE SHORT JUST A FEW
PEOPLE OF BEING VIABLE.
ULTIMATELY, THEY BECAME VIABLE
WHEN THE ENTIRE BIDEN GROUP
MOVED OVER TO EDWARDS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SO A LOT OF THIS IS GOING ON.
IT TAKES ABOUT HALF AN HOUR, AT
WHICH POINT THE CHAIR WILL SAY,
"THE REALIGNMENT'S OVER.
WHAT'S YOUR COUNT?"
>> WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER YET.
>> 26%.
>> I WAS TOLD THAT THEY MIGHT
NEED ONE MORE, AND I WAS WILLING
TO CHANGE FROM OBAMA.
>> OKAY. I THINK WE'RE TEETERING
ON THE EDGE, SO ONE SECOND.
>> I KNOW.
>> OKAY.
>> WE NEED REPORTS.
>> IF THERE ARE ANY NONVIABLE
GROUPS LEFT AT THAT POINT, THOSE
GROUPS MUST DISPERSE.
IT'S OVER FOR THEM.
ONLY THE VIABLE GROUPS GET TO
CONTINUE.
AND FOLKS FROM THOSE NONVIABLE
GROUPS MIGHT GO HOME.
THEY MIGHT LITERALLY JUST
LEAVE, OR THEY MIGHT DISPERSE
INTO OTHER GROUPS.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU
GET A FINAL COUNT.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY ARE SUPPORTING
EACH CANDIDATE.
EACH REMAINING CANDIDATE IS
VIABLE, AND THE CAUCUS CHAIR
THEN DOES THE MATH CALCULATION,
WITH PRECINCT LEADERS FOR EACH
CANDIDATE LOOKING OVER HIS OR
HER SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE IT'S
DONE RIGHT, AND AWARDS THE
DELEGATES.
>> AND CLINTON -- 57.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> EDWARDS -- 169.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> OBAMA -- 177.
>> CONGRATULATIONS FOR PULLING
THIS OFF.
DON'T LEAVE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED
IN RESOLUTIONS AND ELECTING
DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION AND
DELEGATES TO PLATFORM
COMMITTEES.
WE'VE GOT MORE FUN AHEAD.
>> SO WE NOW HAVE THE DELEGATE
NUMBERS.
THE PRECINCT CHAIR CALLS IT IN.
THE CAUCUS CHAIR CALLS IT IN TO
THE STATE PARTY, SO THE NUMBERS
GET CALLED IN WHILE THE GROUPS
ACTUALLY ELECT PEOPLE TO BE
THOSE DELEGATES.
ONCE THAT'S DONE, MOST PEOPLE
LEAVE, BUT A FEW HEARTY SOULS
STICK AROUND.
MAYBE 5% OF THE PEOPLE WHO WENT
TO THE CAUCUS STICK AROUND TO DO
A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARTY
BUSINESS -- ELECTING LOCAL PARTY
OFFICIALS, VOTING ON RESOLUTIONS
TO BUILD THE PLATFORM AND THINGS
LIKE THAT, ANOTHER HALF-HOUR OR
SO OF WORK, AND THEN IT'S OVER.
EVERYONE GOES HOME.
THE CHAIR IS LEFT TO CLEAN UP.
>> SO, IT'S NOT UNTIL 1972 WHEN
ALL OF THE ENERGY IS DEVOTED TO
GETTING THE VOTERS TO BE
INVOLVED AND EXPRESS A POPULAR
PREFERENCE RATHER THAN A PARTY
PREFERENCE THAT IOWA IS
DISCOVERED AS BEING THE FIRST
STATE WITH A POPULAR EXPRESSION
OF PREFERENCE, AND SO IOWA NOW
GETS ALL THE ATTENTION.
>> I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A
CAUCUS SHOULD BE FIRST, BECAUSE
TRADITIONALLY, WHEN YOU THINK OF
A CAUCUS, YOU THINK LOW
PARTICIPATION, NOT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REST OF
THE NATION AS TO WHO GOES TO A
CAUCUS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT STATE
IT'S IN.
AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN IOWA,
WHICH IS LILY-WHITE AND
MIDWESTERN, AND YOU KNOW THAT IT
JUST MAYBE WASN'T THE MOST
REPRESENTATIVE -- AT LEAST
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT BEFORE I
GOT HERE.
BUT HAVING WATCHED THE PROCESS,
I THINK THE PEOPLE OF IOWA TAKE
IT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
>> IT'S PART OF A FOUR-STAGE
PROCESS -- PRECINCT CAUCUSES,
COUNTY CONVENTIONS, DISTRICT
CONVENTIONS, AND A STATE
CONVENTION, ALL OF WHICH
EVENTUALLY LEAD TO ELECTING
DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
WELL, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU
NEED TIME IN BETWEEN EACH EVENT.
AND THE PARTY RULES IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHANGED AFTER
1968 TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
TIME REQUIRED.
BY ACCIDENT, THAT PUSHED IOWA
EARLY.
>> BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN FIRST IN
THE NATION FOR SO LONG, THEY'RE
USED TO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO,
AND THEY REALLY GO TO THE
RALLIES.
THEY REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO
WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY'RE VERY INFORMED.
I MEAN, IT WAS FREEZING COLD THE
NIGHT OF THE CAUCUS, AND THE
LINE AT MY CAUCUS WAS OUT THE
DOOR AND AROUND THE CORNER.
>> NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN FIRST
IN THE NATION VIRTUALLY FOREVER
AND GUARDED THAT ZEALOUSLY.
WELL, THE IOWA CAUCUSES -- NO
ONE WENT TO THEM.
NO ONE CARED.
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY WERE
FIRST.
AND IN BECOMING FIRST,
GEORGE McGOVERN'S CAMPAIGN AND,
EVEN MORE SO, JIMMY CARTER'S
CAMPAIGN IN 1976 TOOK TREMENDOUS
ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THE MEDIA PAID ATTENTION, AND WE
BEGAN TO SNOWBALL.
>> THANK YOU!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> ...ROBOTS OF THE WORLD WANT
YOU TO APOLOGIZE.
>> GET OUT OF HERE!
[ AUDIENCE BOOING ]
>> YOU NEED TO FIND MORE
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAYS
TO PROTEST THAN THROWING
GRAFFITI.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
THE CAUCUSES AND, I SUPPOSE,
WHAT MAKES THEM IMPORTANT TO THE
PROCESS AS A WHOLE IS IT GIVES
THE CANDIDATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN WHAT WE CALL "RETAIL
POLITICS," AND THAT MEANS
GETTING OUT AND MEETING THE
PEOPLE.
>> READ IT ON THE PLANE.
>> LISTEN, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
I -- IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER ON
HERE?
PUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
I'LL CALL YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE SOME CANDIDATES
IN A -- THIS IS TRUE PRETTY MUCH
OF ALL CANDIDATES WHEN YOU GET
LATER IN A CAMPAIGN -- WHERE
IT'S SUCH A BIG OPERATION THAT
THE BEST THEY CAN DO IS COME IN,
GIVE A SPEECH TO 400, 500
PEOPLE, 1,000 PEOPLE, DEPENDING
ON THE SIZE OF THE VENUE, AND
THEY REALLY DON'T GET THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE PEOPLE,
MEET THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
GOING TO BE CASTING THOSE VOTES
OR GOING TO THOSE CAUCUSES EARLY
IN THE PROCESS.
AND SO THIS GIVES THEM THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND TO
FIND OUT WHAT'S ON PEOPLE'S
MINDS.
I MEAN, "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO
KNOW ABOUT?
WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOU?"
>> ...THAT WE HELP OUR SCIENCE
AND MATH BY NOT NEGLECTING THE
ARTS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
>> YEAH, I'M PUSHING THAT BIG --
ART IN THE SCHOOLS.
>> YES.
>> A BIG FEDERAL EFFORT.
I WILL DO THAT.
>> YOU CAN HAVE THESE POLLS.
YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS THING AND
ANOTHER THING, BUT YOU DON'T
HEAR THOSE STORIES FROM
INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WAS A TERRIBLE
KIND OF STORY OR SOMETHING
THAT'S INSPIRATIONAL, WHATEVER
IT HAPPENS TO BE THAT YOU WANT
TO HEAR THAT FROM THOSE PEOPLE.
>> FOUR WEEKS LATER, I GOT THE
BIRTHDAY CARD BACK IN THE MAIL
MARKED "RETURN TO SENDER,
CASUALTY DEPARTMENT, U.S. ARMY,"
YET ANOTHER REMINDER THAT HE WAS
GONE.
I TOOK THAT CARD AND I WENT TO
THE STORE AND I BOUGHT TWO
HELIUM BALLOONS.
I DROVE TO HIS GRAVE.
I SAT BESIDE HIM.
I ATTACHED THAT CARD TO THE
BALLOONS.
I LET IT GO.
I WATCHED IT DRIFT UP INTO THE
SKY AND ON ALONG THE BREEZE.
[ Voice breaking ] WE'RE GONNA
BRING THEM HOME.
WE'RE GONNA BRING THEM ALL HOME.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT
FOR THE CANDIDATES, BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, IF THEY'RE JUST SORT
OF SHOWING UP AT AN EVENT, THEY
SEE THIS SEA OF FACES OUT THERE,
BUT THEY DON'T REALLY MAKE THAT
CONNECTION TO UNDERSTAND THAT,
"LOOK, I'M GOING TO BE LEADING
REAL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THIS SEA
OF FACES OR NOT JUST, YOU KNOW,
UNKNOWN VOTES THAT ARE OUT THERE
ON ELECTION DAY."
>> MIKE HUCKABEE.
>> ...A DOCUMENTARY ON --
>> ON THE CAUCUS?
>> WE LOVE CANDIDATES WHO LOVE
IOWA, SO --
>> IT'S HARD NOT TO RIGHT NOW.
>> CAN YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN IOWA?
>> I THINK THE IOWA CAUCUSES ARE
VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT MEANS
THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO DON'T
HAVE THE FUNDING OF SOME OF THE
OTHERS, STILL CAN BE
COMPETITIVE.
IF WE LOSE THAT, WE DON'T JUST
LOSE THE IOWA CAUCUS.
WE LOSE THE POTENTIAL OF THE
PRESIDENCY OF BEING A PEOPLE'S
PRESIDENCY AND IT BECOMING A
PLUTOCRACY.
BE THE WORST THING THAT EVER
HAPPENED.
AND TO HAVE TO BECOME PRESIDENT,
YOU SHOULD EARN IT, NOT BUY IT.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS
IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
PATH TO THE PRESIDENCY IS THAT
IN IOWA, THEY'RE JUST NOT THAT
IMPRESSED 'CAUSE YOU HAVE MONEY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR
IDEAS, AND I REALLY THINK THE
COUNTRY'S INTERESTS ARE INVOLVED
IN PRESERVING THE CAUCUS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHY IS IOWA IMPORTANT?
IOWA'S IMPORTANT PRIMARILY
BECAUSE IT'S FIRST.
WHOEVER WAS FIRST WOULD HAVE
THIS ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS THE
VERY FIRST TIME THAT VOTERS GET
TO WEIGH IN ON THE CANDIDATES,
AND IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF THE
PERMANENT CAMPAIGN OF LARGE,
HUGE, FRANKLY, FUNDRAISING
EFFORTS OF TREMENDOUS MEDIA- AND
CONSULTANT-DRIVEN CAMPAIGNS,
THE MEDIA'S GOING TO PAY
ATTENTION TO WHERE THE FIRST
VOTES GET CAST, NO MATTER WHERE
THEY ARE.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, AND WHY CAN'T
YOU HEAR ME?
IS ROMNEY SET UP OR NOT?
ASK IF ROMNEY IS SET UP.
>> IS ROMNEY SET?
>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT GOING
NEGATIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND
SAID, "PUT SOME GOOD IN THERE IF
YOU HAVE TO WITH THE BAD.
DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO."
DID YOU SAY THAT?
>> SHE'S DISCOVERING THIS
NEIGHBORING STATE OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> THERE WERE SO MANY FOLKS
HERE, MUCH MORE MEDIA ATTENTION,
AND OCCASIONALLY, THEN, AS
PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO ME, THEY
WOULD SAY, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THE NATIONAL MEDIA?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF
THIS ATTENTION, AND, YOU KNOW,
WHAT CAUSED IT?"
WELL, I THINK THE THING THAT
MAINLY CAUSED IT WAS THE FACT
THAT WE HAD VERY INTERESTING
RACES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE.
>> THE PROCESS OF WHO GETS
ATTENTION IS REALLY AN
INTERACTIVE PROCESS.
I MEAN, IT STARTS WITH MEDIA
BUZZ.
IT STARTS WITH PUBLIC-OPINION
POLLS.
IT STARTS WITH CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS.
AND OUT OF THOSE SORT OF STRAWS
IN THE WIND, YOU BEGIN TO GET A
SENSE OF, "WELL, WHICH
CANDIDATES ARE THE SERIOUS
CANDIDATES?
WHICH ONES ARE NOT?"
>> SENATOR, THIS WAY.
>> THE ISSUES ARE GONNA MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE.
AND I THINK YOU GOT TO LOOK AT
WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE JUST IN THE
CASE OF PAKISTAN LAST WEEK.
>> ...NEAR-RECORD TURNOUT HERE
IN IOWA.
THERE ARE LINES AROUND THE
BLOCK, OVERCROWDING OF CAUCUS
CENTERS, AND A LOT'S GONE INTO
IT -- $50 MILLION SPENT ON TV
ADS ALONE IN IOWA.
>> ...THE SENATOR FROM IOWA ALSO
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
BUT THE DIFFICULTY IS...
>> YES, ELECTABILITY USUALLY
DOES MEAN...
>> AND IF YOU CAN GET THE PRESS
TO REORIENT ITSELF FROM SAYING,
"OH, THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S
RUNNING" TO "THIS IS SOMEBODY
WHO COULD BE THE NEXT
PRESIDENT," THEN YOU'VE REALLY
TAKEN A BIG STEP TOWARDS
IMPROVING YOUR CHANCES OF
RUNNING.
>> ...COMUNIDAD DE AQUELLOS QUE
ERAN RESIDENTES A QUE SE
HICIERAN LIBERANOS.
>> YES, THE POLLING NUMBERS FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DROPPED
OUT -- TALKING 457 VOTES --
THE POLLING NUMBERS --
I DIDN'T EITHER.
LAST NIGHT, I WAS RUNNING MY
MODEL.
I WAS ACTUALLY PREDICTING.
I'M NOT SHOWING...
>> THE REASON POLLING MATTERS TO
THE MEDIA IS THEY NEED A NEW
STORY EVERY DAY.
THEY'VE GOT -- EVEN IN THE
INTERNET AGE, YOU'VE GOT --
ACTUALLY, MAYBE EVEN MORE SO IN
THE INTERNET AGE, YOU GOT SPACE
TO FILL.
YOU GOT PEOPLE TO GET.
YOU'VE GOT EYEBALLS TO ATTRACT,
AND TO ATTRACT THOSE EYEBALLS,
YOU GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING NEW.
POLLING GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO
TALK ABOUT THAT'S RELATIVELY
EASY.
AND THE STORY HAS A TENDENCY TO
WRITE ITSELF AS LONG AS THE
POLLSTER PRESENTS IT WELL.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, THE POLLS HAVEN'T BEEN
PARTICULARLY ACCURATE THIS TIME
AROUND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT
THEY WERE SO INACCURATE HERE IN
IOWA.
I MEAN, THEY WERE ACTUALLY
PRETTY DEAD-ON IN THAT IT SHOWED
THAT IT WAS PRETTY DEAD-ON --
I MEAN, THAT PARTICULARLY THE
DEMOCRATS WERE SO TIGHT
TOGETHER, IT WAS REALLY HARD TO
PREDICT WHO WAS GONNA WIN, AND,
IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN SO BAD
OTHERWISE.
PARTICULARLY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
THEY WERE REALLY BAD AND IN SOME
OTHER PLACES, AND I THINK THIS
YEAR, THEY JUST DIDN'T ESTIMATE
HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD COME
OUT AND KIND OF DIFFERENT TYPES
OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME OUT.
AND SO THEIR SAMPLE WAS JUST
FLAWED IN WHO THEY WERE GETTING,
AND, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HARD TO
SAMPLE, AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN
IOWA, IT'S HARD TO SAMPLE
CAUCUSGOERS, 'CAUSE IT'S HARD
TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GONNA
ACTUALLY GO, AND MOST OF THE
TIME, THEY'RE DOING THE SAMPLING
BASED ON WHO WENT IN THE PAST.
AND SO IF PEOPLE DIDN'T
PARTICIPATE IN THE PAST, YOU
DON'T KNOW TO GO ASK THEM.
>> AND SO THE FACT THAT THE
POLLS JUMP ALL OVER THE PLACE IN
THE IOWA CAUCUSES ISN'T BECAUSE
THE POLLSTERS DO A BAD JOB.
IT'S BECAUSE THE KEY QUESTION,
"ARE YOU GOING TO CAUCUS?," IS
VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE
TO ANSWER BEFORE THE CAUCUSES.
THEY CAN SAY THEY'RE GOING TO
CAUCUS, THEY CAN SAY THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO CAUCUS, BUT CAUCUS
NIGHT, YOU GOT TO GET OUT AT THE
SAME TIME.
IT MIGHT BE COLD.
IT MIGHT BE SNOWY.
IT MIGHT BE WHO KNOWS WHAT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING GOING
ON IN YOUR LIFE.
AND SO IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO
FIND FOLKS.
>> I READ WHERE THE DES MOINES
REGISTER CAME OUT WITH A POLL
RIGHT BEFORE THE CAUCUSES, AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO DISMISS
THE RESULTS.
THEY SHOWED OBAMA IN THE LEAD.
BUT THEIR PROFILE OF WHO WAS
GONNA VOTE DIDN'T FIT
PRECONCEPTIONS.
THERE WAS TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE WERE TOO MANY
INDEPENDENTS.
THERE WERE TOO MANY FIRST-TIME
CAUCUSGOERS.
AND THIS WAS -- THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN AN UNUSUAL TURNOUT, AND
THEREFORE, THE CONCLUSION, THE
INFERENCE, WAS THIS WAS AN
INCORRECT SAMPLE AND, THEREFORE,
THE RESULTS AREN'T RELIABLE.
WELL, AS IT TURNED OUT,
THE DES MOINES REGISTER GOT IT
RIGHT.
THERE WAS A VERY HIGH TURNOUT OF
FIRST-TIME CAUCUSGOERS.
THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
PARTICIPATING, A LOT OF
INDEPENDENTS REGISTERING AS
DEMOCRATS AND AS REPUBLICANS.
>> OKAY, WE HAD THE IOWA RESULTS
AND THE IOWA CAUCUSES.
HOW DID THAT AFFECT WHAT WAS
GOING ON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?
DID, IN FACT, HUCKABEE SPIKE UP?
YES, HE DID A LITTLE BIT.
HOW ABOUT McCAIN?
McCAIN ALSO GOT A SURGE, 'CAUSE
THOSE WERE THE TWO THAT WERE
SEEN AS DOING REALLY WELL IN
IOWA, AND THEY GOT A BIT OF A
BUMP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, EVEN
THOUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS WILL
TELL YOU, "OH, NO, IOWA RESULTS
DIDN'T AFFECT US AT ALL."
BUT IT DOES A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
THEY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE MEDIA
ATTENTION, AND SO NOW PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT THOSE CANDIDATES
AGAIN IF THEY HADN'T SUPPORTED
THEM INITIALLY.
SO, THE POLLS MAKE A BIT OF A
DIFFERENCE, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO
TAKE THEM WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
>> ASIDE FROM ENJOYING
EVERYTHING ON A STICK AT THE
IOWA FAIR, WHICH IS ALWAYS A
GREAT JOY HERE, THE THING I
THINK I'VE CARRIED AWAY THE MOST
IS I LOVE THE INDEPENDENCE AND
THE NOTION THAT IOWANS, I THINK
THIS TIME AND HISTORICALLY, AS
WELL, MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE BEING TOLD ALL
THE TIME BY PEOPLE WHO SPEND
HERE DECIDING WHAT YOU'RE GOING
TO DO ON A CAUCUS NIGHT, AND YOU
HAVE PROVEN OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN
MINDS, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING
FOR AMERICA.
>> THANK YOU. GOVERNOR?
>> WELL, I'VE STUDIED THE
HISTORY OF THE IOWA CAUCUSES.
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT IOWANS IS
YOU LIKE UNDERDOGS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
DEBATE AND YOU'RE LISTENING TO
ALL THESE CANDIDATES SPEAK, THEN
YOU MIGHT LISTEN TO THEM
UNFILTERED, SPEAKING FOR
THEMSELVES, AND GO, "GOSH, I
REALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S MY
GUY."
I MEAN, IF YOU GO BACK TO 2000,
THE FAMOUS SIGHS BY AL GORE
OFFSCREEN -- HE'S NOT EVEN IN
THE PICTURE -- BUT GEORGE BUSH
IS ANSWERING A QUESTION, AND
AL GORE'S GOING...
[ SIGHS ]
AND THAT REALLY HURT HIM,
BECAUSE IT GAVE AN IMPRESSION OF
WHO HE WAS TO THE VOTERS THAT
WAS HARD TO OVERTURN.
YOU CAN'T, WITH AN AD, UNDO THE
IMPRESSION THAT YOU MAKE WITH
THAT, AND IN THE SAME WAY, IN A
DEBATE, IT'S UNCONTROLLED.
>> WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE
FOREIGN-POLICY EXPERIENCE OF
YOUR OWN, HOW WILL YOU RELY ON
SO MANY CLINTON ADVISERS AND
STILL DELIVER THE KIND OF BREAK
FROM THE PAST THAT YOU'RE
PROMISING VOTERS?
>> WELL, THE -- YOU KNOW, I
AM --
>> I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELL, HILLARY, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO YOU ADVISING ME, AS
WELL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'LL WANT TO GATHER UP TALENT
FROM EVERYWHERE.
>> TO ME, THE DEBATES DIDN'T
SEEM TO BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL IT
GOT DOWN TO MAYBE SIX, BUT FIVE
WOULD BE BETTER, AND I KNOW THAT
SOME OF THE DEBATE ORGANIZERS
TOOK SOME CRITICISM FOR NOT
ALLOWING SOME OF THE SECOND- OR
THIRD-TIER, IF YOU WANT TO CALL
THEM THAT, CANDIDATES -- IN
OTHER WORDS, THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE NOT POLLING VERY WELL -- IN
ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER.
>> CONGRESSMAN PAUL, WHAT'S THE
BIGGEST OBSTACLE STANDING IN THE
WAY OF IMPROVING EDUCATION?
>> DO I HAVE TO RAISE MY HAND TO
GET A QUESTION?
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT
QUESTION.
>> I'M GETTING TO YOU.
>> NO, YOU'RE NOT.
YOU HAVEN'T IN SEVERAL
GO-ROUNDS, SO I HAVE TO MAKE AN
ISSUE OUT OF IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
QUESTION OF EDUCATION.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I DON'T WISH IT TO PASS ON.
>> PLEASE, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
>> THEY HAD A MINUTE.
WHY DO I GET 30 SECONDS?
SEE, YOUR UNFAIRNESS IS NOW
BECOMING SO APPARENT THAT THE
VOTERS IN IOWA MUST UNDERSTAND
THERE'S A REASON FOR IT.
AND THE REASON FOR IT IS WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
>> SOMETIMES IT'S A MATTER OF
FORMAT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
A VERY SMALL LOCATION OR THE
TYPE OF
SITTING-AROUND-THE-TABLE,
TALKING KIND OF A THING.
BUT JUST TO HAVE NINE -- EIGHT,
NINE CANDIDATES ONSTAGE ALL AT
THE SAME TIME, THEN NOBODY'S
REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB, AND IT
MAKES THE PROCESS NOT AS
EFFECTIVE AND NOT AS USEFUL TO
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DECIDING --
ULTIMATELY, THE VOTERS.
>> ARE YOU READY TO CAUCUS?
'CAUSE HILLARY'S READY TO
LEAD
LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR
NOMINEE
H.R.C.
>> NO, HE'S JUST OUR FAMILY PET.
>> ANOTHER PARROT FOR PEACE.
>> IS HE GOING TO THE CAUCUS?
>> HE'LL CAUCUS WHEN WE DO.
YEAH.
>> THERE'S MORE COMING.
A BLOODY AMERICA.
I SPIT ON YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
MAN, WE COULDN'T GET -- WE
COULDN'T GET ANOTHER HUMAN BEING
IN HERE WITH A SHOEHORN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THANK YOU FOR COMING, ALL OF
YOU.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T LOOKED,
IT'S AMAZING.
WE GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE LOOKING
IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS.
>> THE ORGANIZATION IS YOU HAVE
A PRECINCT CAPTAIN IN EVERY
PRECINCT.
THAT'S A VOLUNTEER OPERATION.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE JAZZED
ENOUGH TO GET OUT ON COLD DAYS
AND KNOCK ON DOORS AND MAKE
THEIR PHONE CALLS EVEN THOUGH
PEOPLE HANG UP ON THEM AND GET
OUT AND DO STUFF.
AND IN THIS WAY, THE GRASSROOTS
NATURE OF IOWA IS SOMETHING THAT
USED TO BE STANDARD FOR
POLITICS.
BUT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS GOT
AWAY FROM THEM WHEN THEY WENT TO
SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON
TELEVISION.
ALL THE MONEY WENT TO
TELEVISION.
IT DIDN'T GO TO BUILDING
ORGANIZATION AND VOLUNTEERS.
AND, NATIONALLY, THAT'S STILL
TRUE.
EVEN IN IOWA, PEOPLE WERE
SPECULATING THAT MEDIA WAS GOING
TO MATTER A LOT MORE THAN
ORGANIZATION.
IN THE END, YOU CAN'T FIGHT A
REALLY COMMITTED CORPS OF
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE IOWANS.
HOWARD DEAN TRIED TO BUILD THIS,
BUT HE BROUGHT A LOT -- HE
BROUGHT 4,000 PEOPLE IN FROM OUT
OF STATE TO KNOCK ON THE DOORS.
MIKE HUCKABEE DIDN'T DO THAT.
MIKE HUCKABEE HAD REAL IOWANS
DOING WHATEVER THEY DID TO GET
VOTES OUT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
>> IT'S THE WAY THAT WE KEEP
TRACK OF THE PEOPLE WE CALL.
WE HAVE A STATUS SHEET WHERE
IT'S COMPLETE CALLS, BAD
NUMBERS, AND THEN OUR QUESTION
ONE IS "WHO'S YOUR FIRST CHOICE
FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION?"
QUESTION TWO IS "WHO IS YOUR
SECOND CHOICE?"
AND THEN OUR THIRD QUESTION IS
IF YOU'LL BE GOING TO THE IOWA
CAUCUS OR NOT.
AND THEN EACH CANDIDATE IS
ASSIGNED A CERTAIN LETTER.
SO IT MAKES IT VERY EASY.
WE SCAN THEM THROUGH A MACHINE.
AND WE KEEP TRACK OF WHO'S
SUPPORTING WHO, AND THEN RIGHT
BEFORE THE IOWA CAUCUS, WE CALL
ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS, MAKE SURE
THEY GO CAUCUS FOR RUDY.
>> I'LL HAVE TO GET SOME MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, BUT I
KNOW FOR SURE THAT THERE'S GREAT
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS FOR THAT
EVENING.
SO THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU
CAN'T PARTICIPATE.
>> HEY, IS THIS DANIEL?
>> FACEBOOK HAS BECOME SO
POLITICALLY AWARE THAT THERE ARE
SO MANY DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS
ABOUT U.S. POLITICS, OR YOU CAN
GO ON RECORD AND SAY, YOU KNOW,
"THIS IS WHO I'M PLANNING ON
VOTING FOR."
AND YOU CAN DEBATE CERTAIN
ISSUES AND TAKE A STANCE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE HOW YOU'RE
INDIRECTLY AFFECTING OTHER
PEOPLE.
>> ...AND ONE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
AND THEY'LL HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS,
AND WE'RE JUST EDUCATING PEOPLE
ON THE CAUCUS PROCESS ON A
BIPARTISAN LEVEL ABOUT THE
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
CAUCUSES.
I DO THEM ALL OVER THE STATE,
ABOUT ONE A DAY -- SOMETIMES TWO
A DAY.
I HAVE TWO TOMORROW.
I LOVE THIS PROCESS, AND I WANT
IOWA TO BE FIRST, AND I WANT
PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.
>> AND THEN IT WAS IN '03 THAT
WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF
HAVING A COFFEE-BEAN CAUCUS WITH
THE IOWA CAUCUSES.
WE DECIDED TO HAVE ONE BEAN, ONE
VOTE AND HAD MASON JARS FOR EACH
CANDIDATE.
AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE CAUCUS,
YOU START TO SEE MORE OF -- A
LOT OF THE STAFF COMING IN TO
EAT, TOO, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER
THE CAUCUS, WE'LL HAVE QUITE A
BIT OF THE POLITICAL STAFF
COMING IN, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.
>> IOWANS LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE
REASONABLY NICE, THAT CAN GET
ALONG WITH PEOPLE, AND CARE A
LOT MORE ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING
THINGS AND RUNNING OUR
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENTLY THAN, YOU
KNOW, JUST WINNING.
>> SEE THIS HANDY-DANDY LIST
HERE.
OKAY, SO, LET'S SEE.
YEAH, I'VE SEEN BIDEN.
I'VE SEEN HILLARY A COUPLE OF
TIMES.
I'VE SEEN DODD.
SEEN EDWARDS AND HIS WIFE.
I'VE SEEN GIULIANI AND HUCKABEE
AND DUNCAN HUNTER.
I HAVEN'T SEEN KUCINICH, AND I
HAVEN'T SEEN RICHARDSON.
I'VE SEEN RON PAUL AND OBAMA --
RODE AN ELEVATOR WITH HIM.
SEEN McCAIN.
SEEN ROMNEY.
SEEN TANCREDO AND THOMPSON, TOO.
>> WHAT'S THAT THERE?
>> OH, THIS IS A SUMMARY.
>> OH.
>> IT'S PUT OUT BY THE
IOWA CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE.
I'M AN AGNOSTIC MYSELF, BUT THEY
PUT TOGETHER A NICE SUMMARY
THING.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT IF YOU WANT.
>> WHEN WE WERE AT A MITT ROMNEY
EVENT AT KIRKWOOD, WE ACTUALLY
WALKED OUT WITH THE SNOWMAN
RIGHT WHEN MITT WAS ONSTAGE WITH
THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS
INTRODUCING HIM, SO THAT GOT A
BIG NOTICE.
>> AND WE GOT THROWN OUT.
>> YEAH, WE DID.
WE GOT THROWN OUT.
YEAH.
>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
CAMPAIGN, THEY WERE JUST SAYING,
"GLOBAL WARMING'S A PROBLEM, AND
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT."
WELL, BY US ASKING SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS, THEY REALIZED THAT
THEY HAVE TO ANSWER -- BE ABLE
TO ANSWER THOSE SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S
HELPED FORMULATE THEIR POLICY.
>> AND AS A RETIRED FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE, I AM REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M BEING
PENALIZED AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY
IS REDUCED BECAUSE I AM A
CIVIL-SERVICE ANNUITANT, AND I
DID WORK FOR 10 YEARS UNDER
SOCIAL SECURITY, AND I GET $100
A MONTH FOR THAT, WHICH IS A
REAL PITTANCE, AS FAR AS I'M
CONCERNED.
I THINK THAT LAW IS TOTALLY
UNFAIR, AND IT PARTICULARLY
AFFECTS WOMEN WHO HAVE SPENT THE
EARLY PART OF THEIR CAREER
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEIR
CHILDREN WERE TAKEN WELL CARE
OF.
THEY DIDN'T PERHAPS START THEIR
CAREER WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AT AN EARLY AGE.
>> I'M LEARNING AS I'M GOING.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING ON THE
INTERNET, AND I GUESS PART OF
WHAT I'VE LEARNED HAS BEEN
CORRECT, BUT I ALSO -- THERE WAS
SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE I FOUND
MORE ABOUT DEMOCRATIC STUFF, NOT
REALIZING THAT IT'S DONE A
LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
I ACTUALLY PREFER THIS WAY FROM
WHAT I'VE HEARD.
I WAS KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO
STAND IN GROUPS.
>> IN BANGLADESH, WE HAVE TWO
PRIME MINISTERS IN THE LAST 15
YEARS WERE ALL WOMEN.
AND IN MUSLIM COUNTRY, YOU KNOW,
WE COULD BRING THE WOMAN AS THE
HEAD OF THE COUNTRY, SO I
DECIDED WE CAN BRING WOMAN
PRESIDENT, THE BEST COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT.
>> OH, I HAVE A STRATEGY THAT I
DON'T WANT TO REVEAL AT THIS
TIME.
YOU KNOW, AS AN INDEPENDENT,
WE LIKE TO MAKE TROUBLE.
>> I DON'T LIKE POLITICS.
I JUST LIKE PEOPLE WITH VISION.
>> YEAH, I SAW HIM IN MUSCATINE
EARLIER TODAY AT NOON, AND THEN
3:00, I WAS BACK HERE, GETTING
MY PICTURE PRINTED OFF, GETTING
IT SIGNED.
>> WELL, WE HAVE CALLER I.D.,
AND IF IT'S A POLL, WE ANSWER,
'CAUSE WE'RE FROM IOWA, AND
PEOPLE CARE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU GO TO A BASKETBALL GAME,
YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY IN LIEU
OF SITTING IN YOUR CHAIR AND
WATCHING IT ON TV.
HOPEFULLY ALL THE PEOPLE ARE
GETTING OUT -- PEOPLE STANDING
OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, PEEKING
THROUGH WINDOWS.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN.
YOU CAN FEEL IT.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT TRANSLATES
OVER INTO TOMORROW'S CAUCUSES
AND EVERYBODY GETS OUT AND DOES
THEIR THING AND TAKES -- YOU
KNOW, TAKES IT BACK, YOU KNOW.
CHANGE IS A GOOD THING.
>> AND THE EASIEST WAY TO NOT
GET ELECTED IN IOWA IS TO SAY
SOMETHING MEAN.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD RATHER ELECT
THE WRONG GUY THAT'S NICE THAN
THE RIGHT GUY THAT'S A JERK.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST IOWA.
>> AY, ARRIBA Y ARRIBA
AY, ARRIBA
YO NO SOY MARINERO
YO NO SOY MARINERO
SOY CAPITáN
>> I WANTED THIS.
I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS
COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO GO
HOUSE-BY-HOUSE WITH THE PEOPLE I
KNOW AND TALKING ABOUT
BILL RICHARDSON AND TELLING THE
PEOPLE WHY I LIKE HIM.
THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING.
THIS IS WHAT I DO, AND I THINK
IT'S WORKING.
NOW, TODAY, THE PEOPLE CAME.
LATINOS CAME.
>> AND IT LOOKED THE OLD-TIMERS
ARE HERE EARLY, BECAUSE THEY
KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND OUT
IN THE HALLWAY THERE, THERE'S
PROBABLY ANOTHER COUPLE THOUSAND
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN HERE.
AND THE THING THAT IMPRESSES ME
IS THAT IT'S LIKE I WANT TO SEE
THE MEDIA TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
SORT OF THING, 'CAUSE LATELY
THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM ABOUT,
OH, A SMALL STATE,
UNREPRESENTATIVE, BLAH, BLAH,
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
MAKES YOU SICK.
INSTEAD, IT'S A SENSE OF "THIS
IS PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY."
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE.
THIS IS WHAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE
TO FACE.
THEY HAVE TO RUN THROUGH THIS
OBSTACLE COURSE THAT IS IOWA,
AND THEY HAVE TO MEET THE
PEOPLE FACE-TO-FACE, SHAKE THEIR
HAND, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE, TELL
THEM WHERE THEY STAND ON THINGS,
AND TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES.
>> SO, ACTUALLY, THIS IS MY
FIRST CAUCUS, AND I THINK THAT
LEARNING ABOUT IT, BEING PART OF
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AND
EVERYTHING IN NEW YORK, IT JUST
BOGGLED MY MIND HOW THE WHOLE
PROCESS WORKS, AND I THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING,
BECAUSE IN NEW YORK AND OTHER
PLACES, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE,
LIKE, A REGULAR ELECTION, IT'S
PRIVATE.
>> SO, I JUMPED IN MY CAR, AND I
LEFT 80-DEGREE WEATHER BACK
THERE IN MISSISSIPPI, AND I
DROVE HERE IN THE ICE AND THE
STORM.
I HAD TO HANG OVER IN ST. LOUIS,
AND I GOT HERE.
BUT MY WHOLE PROBLEM -- MY
REASONING FOR COMING IS BECAUSE
I BELIEVE IN HILLARY.
SO AS I WAS IN MISSISSIPPI AND
WATCHING THE POLLS IN IOWA AND
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND
SOUTH CAROLINA, I WAS A LITTLE
COMFORTABLE WITH HER LEAD, BUT
WHEN BARACK OBAMA PULLED OUT THE
BIG DOG, OR THE BIG -- WHAT DO
YOU CALL IT? -- THE WEAPON OF
MASS DESTRUCTION, I LOOKED AND
SCREAMED, "OH, NO!
IT'S OPRAH, THE WEAPON OF MASS
DESTRUCTION!
I GOT GO TO IOWA AND HELP
HILLARY!"
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WHOO!
WHOA!
ALL RIGHT!
WHOO!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
FIRED UP!
WE'RE FIRED UP!
OH, YES, WE ARE, IOWA.
WE NEED SOME FIRE IN IOWA
TONIGHT.
>> THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WOMEN WHO
PARTICIPATE IN A CAUCUS AND MEN
WHO PARTICIPATE IN A CAUCUS,
WHICH IS REALLY UNUSUAL, BECAUSE
IF YOU TAKE THE MASS THAT COULD
PARTICIPATE IN ANY ELECTION,
WOMEN VOTE AT THE SAME RATE, BUT
THEY TEND TO DO THINGS LIKE WEAR
BUTTONS OR PUT BUMPER STICKERS
ON THEIR CAR OR KIND OF
PROSELYTIZE THE OTHER PEOPLE
ABOUT CANDIDATES AT DIFFERENT
RATES, AT KIND OF LESSER RATES.
>> MICHAEL MOORE AND
PAUL KRUGMAN ALSO ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO ENDORSE A PARTICULAR
CANDIDATE.
THEY'VE ALSO CONSISTENTLY GONE
FOR EDWARDS, SO...
>> MICHAEL MOORE'S NOT ALLOWED
TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE?
>> IN HIS LETTER TODAY, HE SAID,
"I'M NOT ENDORSING A CANDIDATE."
>> OH, HE'S ALLOWED TO.
HE JUST DIDN'T ENDORSE A
CANDIDATE.
>> WELL, THEN HE FAIRLY CLEARLY
ENDORSED EDWARDS IN HIS LETTER
TODAY.
>> WELL, WHY DIDN'T HE ENDORSE
EDWARDS?
>> THE SAME REASON AS KRUGMAN.
>> NO, KRUGMAN WORKS FOR
THE NEW YORK TIMES.
MICHAEL MOORE WORKS FOR
MICHAEL MOORE.
>> OKAY. WELL, THEN, THEY'RE
BOTH ENDORSING EDWARDS, FOR
GOD'S SAKE.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
OBAMA AND HEALTHCARE.
OBAMA AND EDWARDS HAVE VERY
SIMILAR PLANS, AND THE THING
ABOUT OBAMA IS THAT HIS IS NOT
MANDATORY.
THE REASON IT IS NOT MANDATORY
IS SO THAT PEOPLE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD IT WILL NOT BE FORCED TO
PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY
CANNOT AFFORD.
THAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE.
NO.
>> THAT'S WHY WE LIKE KUCINICH.
>> YEAH.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
>> ...OUT OF THE PLAN AND
INCREASE THE PRICE FOR ALL THE
REST OF US IN IT.
YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND PAY
FOR IT.
>> I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO
LEAVE.
I WAS GONNA GO TO SPAIN.
BUT I CHANGED MY TICKET SO I
COULD STAY AND CAUCUS.
IT'S JUST TREMENDOUSLY
IMPORTANT, AND MY VOTE HERE IS
WORTH, I DON'T KNOW, 200 IN ANY
OTHER STATE OR -- I LIVED IN
BOSTON FOR A WHILE, WHERE, AS A
DEMOCRAT, MY VOTE MEANT NOTHING,
REALLY.
SO, IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME
SERIOUS INFLUENCE.
>> I THINK IN THE END, THE IOWA
CAUCUSES MEAN WHATEVER WE WANT
THEM TO MEAN IN ANY GIVEN CYCLE.
THEY ARE, IN FACT, THE FIRST
TEST OF CANDIDATES.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, POLITICAL
SCIENTISTS HAVE A HARD TIME
PROVING, STATISTICALLY, THAT
IOWA MATTERS.
NOW, THE REALITY IS I THINK THE
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE JUST
WRONG.
I THINK THE MODELS THAT
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS BUILD
DON'T REALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
VERY WELL THE UNIQUE FACTORS
THAT ARE IOWA.
IN IOWA, THEY HAD LOTS OF
TELEVISION COMMERCIALS, EVEN
MORE STUFF IN THEIR MAILBOXES,
MORE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON THEIR
DOORS, CANDIDATES TALKING TO
THEM PERSONALLY, AND SO THEY
HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION TO WORK FROM.
THE RESULT IS THEY HAVE A VERY
DIFFERENT VIEW ON THE CAMPAIGN
THAN NATIONAL VOTERS WHO HAVEN'T
YET HAD A CAMPAIGN TO RESPOND
TO.
SO IT ISN'T THAT IOWANS ARE
BRILLIANT IN SOME WAYS, ALTHOUGH
MAYBE THEY ARE.
WHAT IT REALLY IS IS THAT IOWANS
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND
THROUGH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
>> OKAY, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS.
OBAMA -- 384.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
EDWARDS -- 169.
>> MITT ROMNEY -- 7.
MIKE HUCKABEE -- 8.
DUNCAN HUNTER -- 0.
JOHN McCAIN -- 8.
>> ...IN POLITICS, JUST LIKE A
NEW DAY IS NEEDED IN AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT.
AND TONIGHT, IT STARTS HERE IN
IOWA.
BUT IT DOESN'T END HERE.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE
OTHER STATES AND ENDS AT
1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE ONE
YEAR FROM NOW.
>> IT HAS BEEN JUST A PLEASURE
TO CAMPAIGN HERE, ALTHOUGH, YOU
KNOW, THE WEATHER'S KIND OF LIKE
CHICAGO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT I LOVE IOWA.
AND I'M GRATEFUL TO IOWA, AND
BECAUSE OF IOWA, WE MIGHT JUST
WIN THIS THING!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE MIGHT JUST WIN!
>> AND THE RIVER'S STILL
FLOWING
BUT I DON'T KNOW, DON'T KNOW
WHICH WAY IT'S FLOWING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
THINK ABOUT ME
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
THINK ABOUT ME
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
>> WHAT I BELIEVE IS
HAND-TO-HAND GRASSROOTS
DEMOCRACY.
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
>> Announcer: THE PRECEDING
PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IN
ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIG TEN
NETWORK.