Pocono News Section

What Exactly are the Iowa Caucuses?

What Exactly are the Iowa Caucuses? - Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 10:28PM EST

? Reported by: Jill Konopka
Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 @10:28pm EST
(WILKES-BARRE, Luzerne County) - The Iowa Caucuses have dominated the news but a lot of people have been asking what exactly the Caucuses are? Reporter Jill Konopka asks, what are the Iowa Caucuses? Ken Wall responded, “Are they the same as the Iowa primaries?" Jill Konopka asks, "So your knowledge of the Iowa caucuses is? Man responds, Nill." Let’s face it, not a lot of us know too much about the process to send only one of many candidates to the White House in November. “I don't pay attention," New Hampshire may be the first state to hold an election, but Iowa. Dr. David Sosar from King’s College spoke with WBRE News, "So this way in the 1970's for the Iowans to skirt that a little bit they become the first state in the nominating process." "The Iowa Caucuses are coming soon." Yup, The Iowa Caucuses start tonight at 7. Dr. Sosar added, "A lot of people are unfamiliar with them. A Caucasus is just what it means, to speak and talk." All 99 counties in the Hawkeye state will be very busy, hosting Caucuses at churches, homes, schools and nearly 18-hundred precincts. But in a Caucasus, there's no private paper ballot. It's a gathering to discuss the issues and voice your support. Dr. Sosar added, "What happens is after finish talking people will go that part of the room of the candidate they want to support and they count the numbers." If a candidate at a Caucasus doesn't receive at least 15-percent support from the attendees, supporters will team up with another candidate's backers to meet the required 15-percent threshold. Dr. Sosar added, "Obviously it's a test of someone's strength early in the process. Name recognition is a big thing, some of the issues. All of this will help Pennsylvania begin to focus more on the particular candidate obviously some have dropped out long before the pa primary election. Remember that’s in April. Tim Anderson of Wilkes-Barre added, "I pretty much know already who I'm going to vote for, so it's not going to make much of a difference." Some though say they'll be tuning in. Maryanne Petrilla of Butler Township said, "I think I'll watch for a little bit, depends on how interesting it is." Not all presidential candidates participate in the Iowa Caucuses either. After tonight's outcome - some candidates from either party will likely drop out - and cast their support for someone else.