4:00 P.M. EST
Real Audio of Briefing
MODERATOR: Welcome, everyone, to the Washington Foreign Press Center and our continuing series of briefings on the 2008 elections. Today, it's the Iowa caucuses and how they work. And as you can see, we have quite a crew here. I'm going to introduce Ms. Susan Ramsey from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and she'll introduce the other people on the dais. They'll have some remarks and then we'll open it up to questions. And I'll remind you again before we get to that point, but to identify yourselves and wait for the microphone.
Ms. Ramsey. Thank you.
MS. RAMSEY: Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be returning to this room and to talk about the caucus process. This is actually my fourth caucus as a voter and my third in working with the media, both international and national, working as a resource to those reporters who are coming and visiting the Des Moines area, sometimes for the first time, sometimes as a repeat guest every four-year cycle that we've been through.
And when I say four-year cycle, it's a little jokingly because we all know that there is no non-caucus year any longer in Iowa. Every year is a caucus year and every cycle starts earlier and earlier and -- you know, even today, when we tell everyone that our current date set is January 14th for the Iowa caucuses, we say current because we know that with activity with Florida and South Carolina and Nevada, it's very likely that we will be talking about an earlier date sometime later this summer. So keep your ears open for the possibility of some shifting domino effect as the front-loading continues. That's not a done story yet, as you well know.
So thank you again for coming and joining us. We've brought a group of 208 Central Iowans to D.C., as we do every year, to talk with our congressional delegation about the issues that are important to Iowa and the business community there. And every four years, we like to take the opportunity to really talk about why Iowa is -- plays such a prominent role in the selection of the United States President.
And so we're happy that you're interested in the topic and we really know that because the process is moving up so much earlier, the interest is so much broader because we've got a two-party cycle this year and we've got a broad field of candidates on both sides. And so we've had a lot of activity from the candidates since really, last August, around Iowa State Fair time is when our cycle really began heating up and we started seeing a lot of candidate appearances and a lot more reporters on the ground in Des Moines.
From my experience, it's pretty phenomenally early, but the level of activity right now is pretty amazing. We've got commercials running in Iowa on a regular basis from some of the candidates and we've got a lot of discussion about what's going to happen in August with the straw poll. So we're well into the cycle already here in early June and we hope that we can help you with some ideas because whether or not you're a first-time visitor to Des Moines or you were there four years ago, a lot has changed in our Greater Des Moines area over the past four years, so there will be some other things, some new things that you'll want to be aware of and we want to be able to have your resource.
Central Iowa knows because of the onslaught of media and staffers and candidates and all the things that go along with that that come to Des Moines, but it's really important that a community step up and make sure that the resources necessary for those reporters to get their jobs done while they're there are important. So we've got about six partners who are working together to make sure that we're collaborating on a source of projects, events, programs that are going on, and that we're all sharing information so that it's very easily accessible to you.
And let me just introduce our members as we go around. This is the Honorable Senator Brad Zaun, representing the area in -- the Central Iowa area in Des Moines. And he is one of the elected officials and is our invited Republican to talk about the Republican type of caucus, because there is a little bit of difference in process between the two parties. Sitting next to me on the other side is the Honorable Jo Oldson, who is also elected official in her third term and also serving the residents around the Greater Des Moines area, and is a representative of the Democratic Party.
Next to her is one of our partners representing the Greater Des Moines Film Commission, Terry Rich, and the Film Commission is an organization in Greater Des Moines helping the film industry find incentives to be able to do commercial filming there, but also is sensitive to the idea that there are needs from the media, particularly broadcast media, that they might be helpful for. So they're one of our partners in our project. And then on the end is Brian Hurley, who represents the Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau. They're the ones that are often involved in the logistics of trying to arrange for the major events that are going on and helping with the locations where they take place and helping to make sure that the visiting media finds an available hotel room, which of course, can be a bit of a challenge.
Last cycle, the Foreign Press Center brought about 150 correspondents to Des Moines and we were very happy to host them and provide them resources and services. And we're here to talk about what some of those things are, but we know you also might have some questions about the front-loading, about how the caucuses work, and so we'd like to invite your questions.
First off, I would like to be able to introduce Jo Oldson to talk a little bit about the "Why Iowa" question.
MS. OLDSON: Thank you, Susan. Thank you all for being here. Iowa has, for a number of years, played a very unique role in this country's process of selecting an American Presidency. And I -- we frequently get asked, "Why Iowa?" It sits in the middle of the country and isn't particularly known as -- for any great thing like mountains, oceans, et cetera. But I think it does prove and has proven over a number of years to be a great first step in testing ground for presidential candidates.
And I think there are two or three reasons I want to mention particularly. One of them is the size of the state. And while we frequently hear and certainly continue to hear more and more so that maybe Iowa is too small a state to be the first in the nation caucuses, I think the size of the state, actually, is a very positive part of the process. It is a manageable size state for candidates to come in and really start their presidential candidacy process. It allows them to come in and test their viability, work out their kinks in their process of their candidacy, and kind of start to run issues up the trial balloon process and see what issues are really important to Americans.
And so that has proven very, very positive for candidates as they start their process. I think another easy piece of a small state for candidates is the fact that it's easy to start your organization. They don't have to put together huge organizations when they first start out. Geographically, it's the size of a state that candidates can come in and put together a relatively small presidential organization, campaign organization, and get their feet off the ground in that respect.
I also think it is a great place for candidates to come in and find skilled volunteers, skilled campaign staff. As you may have seen in this morning's Washington Post front page, a big article on the number of skilled campaign workers that have developed a reputation in Iowa over the years and I think candidates find that very helpful. As well as finding good campaign staff, they also find a very well-educated population and the population is particularly -- pretty politically savvy. And it gives them an opportunity to come in and talk about issues and find out what is really important to Americans and to talk to people that really truly value the process and take it very seriously. So I think those are a number of issues that really play favorably for why Iowa continues to be the first in the nation in the caucus process.
I want to hit real briefly on kind of one of the unique aspects of the Iowa caucus process. It has traditionally been kind of a one-on-one, face-to-face process for candidates. And while that's changing to some degree, particularly as we have a number of candidates and a number of high-profile candidates running in this upcoming process, it is still very much a one-on-one process. And a lot of it takes place in small town coffee shops, small town community centers, in living rooms and garages. And so it is still an opportunity for candidates to really have that one-on-one time and for Americans to have a one-on-one time with the candidates. And I think that's a very unique thing that frequently, as the process moves along, candidates don't have that opportunity to really test campaigns that early.
Once -- that process, I think, allows candidates to have the sense that when they leave Iowa, they really have a pretty firm foundation in what their campaign is about. It's a good process for letting the candidates kind of get the kinks out, get their campaign process in order, and it's a good process for Americans to kind of weed through who are the really strong candidates and who are that probably are not so strong.
I want to just close by saying we take the caucus process very seriously in Iowa. We feel very serious about our role in it and we will continue to work very hard to keep our first in the nation status.
MS. RAMSEY: I'd like now to invite Senator Zaun to talk about the process a little bit. While a paper ballot, a blind ballot is a common way of a primary where someone goes into a voting booth and closes the curtain, we have a very different process that takes a little bit more passion, I would say. And so I'd like Brad to talk about his own experience and how the process works.
SENATOR ZAUN: Well, I'm very excited to be here to share with you about the Iowa caucuses. I think the Iowa caucuses represent what's great about the American dream. I can tell you that I had the opportunity -- I remember in high school meeting this guy named Jimmy Carter and how impressed I was that I could go up there and have a conversation with him. In Iowa, it seems like you bump into a presidential candidate on a daily basis. And I think that what's great about it is it gives an average, ordinary Iowan the chance to have a conversation with a person that could be potentially the most powerful person in the whole world.
And I've met a lot of candidates. I think I have met probably all of them and we just had a reception last night that two of them just happened to show up. And so I'm very proud to be a part of the Iowa caucuses. I can tell you that I probably wouldn't even be in political office if it wasn't for my experiences when I was younger, meeting who became the President of the United States, President Carter. And I've always had a passion for it. And since that day, I've been involved in the caucus in presidential campaigns throughout and you really have an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with those presidential candidates.
And I can tell you that what we do is our caucuses are really very simple, but I think what's great is it's very welcome to the average Iowan. Anyone can show up, as mentioned by Jo earlier. We do it differently. The Republicans do it just a little bit differently than the Democrats. But the main mission here is to elect each of the delegates that are going to represent whoever that candidate is. And I can tell you that it's in small towns where it might be in homes, it's in larger communities like Des Moines, which I represent, part of Des Moines, or it could be in church halls or it could be in schools.
And everybody breaks up by precincts and you are -- and the Republicans, what they do is they go in and they take a paper vote and they figure out who was the person that gets the most votes. And then of course, if the person that -- you might be supporting someone and you might be in a minority; obviously, you're going to be lobbied real hard to switch your vote over to maybe one of the leaders of that.
The Democrats do about the same thing except what they do is they go in and separate the room and they kind of get in a certain section of the room for one particular candidate over the other. So there's really not a lot of difference; at the end, what happens is the same outcome.
We see who the Iowans want to support as the candidate. But what's really important, and I've had the opportunity to do this, is they have spokespeople, just average Iowans, get up and try to tell everybody and sell everybody why this particular candidate is a stronger candidate over the other ones. It's very civil, it's very organized, and -- you know, for someone to come in from the middle of winter on a Monday night and spend time -- these are very passionate people.
So I think the process is great. Now what the candidates do is they obviously have been there for many months so far. I can tell you that I was contacted by a presidential candidate at least two years ago. So there's a lot of organization that goes on and what they do is they come in and they try to talk to you and try to sell you about what they do, you know, and why they should be President of the United States.
And so what we do is we graduate from the caucuses, we go to county conventions, and then eventually, we go to the district conventions and then the state conventions. And that is how we go to the national convention with the amount of delegates that we have in the state of Iowa.
You know, from a candidate's perspective, it's very important to get in there and get organized from the ground. And you want to go by county by county and you go in there. These candidates are out there in coffee shops just talking to people on a day-to-day basis. So it's a huge honor and I could tell you I was always star-struck about the people that I've met, and I've met multiple candidates, a lot of them very, very -- in fact, they're all good candidates.
I could give you an example. The night of the caucus in Irwindale, which is my home community, I remember that we had -- we happened to have -- you know, of course, I was with the Republicans -- Ken Mehlman showed up, who was the National Campaign Chair for President Bush. He was making some rounds and he showed up there, and I was all pumped up and excited. And as I was going out -- and this was at a high school -- as I was going out there, he says, "Boss" at all these people there, and it was -- John Kerry was there. And John Kerry stopped in and just went in and he introduced himself and -- so you never know what kind of surprises you're going to be able to experience.
And I could tell you that obviously, the Republicans do another thing. They have the straw poll convention that's going to be coming up in August. So we have one more, I would say, step in the process of becoming a nominee for your party. So I'm really excited to share with you; you represent the world, and I'm very honored to be here today and certainly look forward to questions. Thank you.
MS. RAMSEY: We'll take your questions in just a few minutes on the process and how they might vary between the two parties and any of the timetable types of issues. But I do want to make sure that we emphasize this collaboration of the various local agencies that have come together to try to provide as much support service for you as we can. And the title of that, as you see from the media packets that we've handed out, is caucusiowa.com, and our six partners. I'll let both Brian and Terry talk about some of the resources that we hope to provide you over the coming months.
MR. HURLEY: Thanks, Susan, and thank all of you for coming today. We sure hope you decide to come to the central part of our country and see how this process works and to start getting you familiar with the area. We have provided you with all -- all with media packets. In those, you'll find information on who's your best resource to contact for specific questions so you don't call the wrong person. Hopefully it's pretty clear for you who your first call should be and they can answer your questions.
The packets include stuff about Greater Des Moines hotels, demographic information on the area, what it's like to live in Central Iowa -- just a whole variety of information. So hopefully it's a good start for you folks.
MR. RICH: One of the things you want to take a look at when you come to Des Moines, starting in October the -- our Iowa Historical Building, which is right next to the big capitol when you come to Iowa, you come to Des Moines to the capital city, you'll see the big capitol with the golden dome, and right at the base of the dome is the Historical Building. In that Historical Building from October through the caucuses will be an actual working exhibit talking about the caucuses. There will be a living room and a coffee shop -- it's a good backdrop if you'd like to do an interview, either TV, radio and/or print. It also will talk about how the caucuses work. It's a really good quick snapshot of what the caucuses are like in the history of the caucuses that began in 1972. So I encourage you, as you look at the website or you come out, to stop by when it opens up some time this fall and through the caucuses.
MR. HURLEY: Thank you very much. One of the resources we've provided you is maps, both of the city and of our downtown skywalk system. I know a number of people realize what the weather's probably like in January or early winter time in Iowa, and we have an extensive 3.5 mile skywalk system that's climate-controlled at 72 degrees year round. And so if you're in one of our downtown hotels that's connected to the skywalks, you can basically get to the larger meeting facilities and stay warm and dry while you're doing it, so --
MR. RICH: We -- in fact, when Bernard Shaw was in -- governing the caucuses, he said he lost his coat because he never had to wear it; he walked the skywalk and did all the reports from the convention center. (Laughter.)
The other thing we want to make sure that you know is available and that we will make available: from a film commission and on that site as we get into the summer and fall, we'll be able to provide you key locations to do shoots. If you need any backgrounds, of course, our local reporters do a lot of different shoots and a lot of different stand-ups, and we can give you the exact locations to go where you can find fiber or where you can find quick internet.
And we'll also have a map of the Wi-Fi locations. There are many locations in Des Moines, so if you want to send a story back quickly and that -- we'll have those maps also posted on the website and in packets. So, any time, any place, we're there to help you to give you the resources to get your story out on time and tell the story of what's happening in the caucuses.
MS. RAMSEY: Can I interject one thing because there's a very important word there, and that is "free" Wi-Fi locations. We -- our -- created the database of about 60, and that number will be growing. Businesses that have wi-fi available at their place of business and -- are inviting you in to take advantage of that while you're there covering your story. It makes it very convenient if you're facing a deadline and you don't have time to get back to your hotel to be able to know where, you know, 12 miles from downtown you might be able to find a Wi-Fi quick access and get your story filed, so --
MR. RICH: Good point.
MS. RAMSEY: -- we wanted to make sure that "free" -- because I know that doesn't happen very often in your world, so -- but it is a growing service in the Greater Des Moines area and we'll make that information available to you.
MR. HURLEY: And the information Terry and I have talked about and as Susan's mentioned earlier, we've collaborated instead of having to go to six different websites to find out about different stuff to put together a website, www.caucusiowa.com, and that will have all the resources, links to the various agencies or people that could help you out through the process. And Susan just mentioned it will be continued -- it is live, and it will continue to be updated with new Wi-Fi locations and really any current information that you guys would want to --
MR. RICH: That was just to check it out, like the state -- the state offices, there's links to the elections offices, both county and the candidates' local headquarters, their addresses, phone numbers, some information about the process; all of that is on that site. So you will want to continue to check back and -- and it also will have a lot of information about the great places to eat and cuisine and all the good things to find out about there from the convention and business (inaudible). So that will be a good site and a good resource to have.
MS. RAMSEY: We do want to be your resource when you're visiting, and so please use that. We know the content will get richer as we get closer and further along into the process. And it's an interactive site. You'll be able to post questions there as well and we'll be able to respond and make sure we get back information and share that with other reporters who might have the very same questions that you have.
We do have a number of -- before we get to the questions -- we do have a number of just people who are with us in our delegation in D.C. and I'd like them to stand up and introduce themselves only because they represent more of our community outside of those sitting up here on the dais. And you might have some questions that are very specific to their part of our world in Central Iowa. So if you guys wouldn't mind to just stand up quickly and introduce yourself.
A PARTICIPANT: I'm Doug Williams. I'm with Des Moines Area Community College; a two-year college, it has six campuses in the Greater Des Moines area.
A PARTICIPANT: Good afternoon, I'm Chris Kramer. I'm with the Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater. We've hosted a number of events already, including "Good America" at the Science Center of Iowa, and had a number of press there. And we also can provide lots of entertainment and backdrops for stories for you while you're there.
A PARTICIPANT: I'm Connie Bozen (ph), I'm a member of the Des Moines School Board and I'm out on the trip talking about pre-school. And I encourage you, if you do come out, to go into our schools and understand, as I told someone, that we represent, in our Des Moines school district over 40 languages are spoken in our school district.
A PARTICIPANT: Good afternoon, I'm Bryce Soulclay (ph). I am a former legislator. I've participated in the caucus process since the 1960s and particularly in the 1970s when it really kind of took off as a process. I'd be happy to -- I do want to tell you that the caucus exhibit in the historical building is going to really be a good venue for many of you, I think you'll find it of interest, as well as other parts of the state.
A PARTICIPANT: Hello. Adam Gross (ph) with the Young Professionals Connection of Greater Des Moines. Our focus is to attract and retain young professionals in Des Moines, and through this process trying to get them involved politically in the caucuses, so --
A PARTICIPANT: I'm Joel Lavali (ph), I'm with Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. We've heard health care might be an issue in this selection -- (laughter) -- so if you're interested in health care backdrops, we can certainly help with that. We also are one of the free Wi-Fi sites. We're just on the north edge of downtown; you're welcome there any time. More importantly, the free Wi-Fi includes a Starbucks, so come on in, we'd love to see you.
MODERATOR: So are we ready to go for questions?
MS. RAMSEY: I think I'll just mention one other thing. There is a partner who's not represented here today and that is Drake University. And Drake University also will be the location of many candidate discussions. And they've actually created a course -- accredited course for their students to take during our fall semester that will be based strictly on the caucus process. They have a great deal of student population; it's very engaged and wants to be. And if you're looking for what young Americans are concerned about the issues that are important to them, that'll be a great place to start.
I think with that we're ready for questions.
MODERATOR: All right, we're ready to go. Again, remember to identify yourself and wait for the mike.
QUESTION: Reymer Kluever from the German newspaper Sueddeutche Zeitung. This is a question for Ms. Oldson. You mentioned that the caucus process is already changing and I wondered in what direction it's changing. You mentioned your -- you mentioned that it might be enough -- not anymore in that personal style it used to be.
MS. OLDSON: I think I want to go back and allude to comments that Susan had made at the very beginning. I think the process is changing in that it's just starting earlier. Candidate -- and some of that may be fed because the slate of candidates is fairly large to start here this time. But certainly, the process has started quite early this year. And so it's just playing out much earlier than normal.
I think we also have a number of candidates that are pretty big -- well known in the nation, and they draw large crowds when they come. And so that in and of itself is a different thing to handle.
MS. RAMSEY: That's not to say that while they draw large crowds, and we've had auditoriums filled for some of the candidates first appearances in this state, and it does take away from that very intimate one-on-one discussion of the issues. But I'll use Senator Clinton as an example, whose -- one of her first appearances was in an auditorium, and thousands showed up, and it was much more what you would experience in the larger states and much later in the process than the typical coffee shop. But after that big first splash, she hit all corners -- four corners of the state and she did the coffee shops and she did the community centers.
And so it does have that transfix -- there's a lot more star power involved in this cycle perhaps than we've seen in past cycles. But that doesn't mean that it's going to take away that very grassroots level discussion of the issues early on about what is America thinking and what are the issues that are affecting people's families, people's neighborhoods, their schools, their communities.
SENAGOR ZAUN: I think that what she mentioned earlier is real important. In a big place, in a big auditorium, you -- it's the candidate giving the opinion. Iowans love giving their opinions. (Laughter.) Ask any Iowan what they think, they'll give you an opinion. And I think that candidates found quickly on the big areas that they didn't connect as well because they want to hear what we are saying because we are an area and I guess, on our own, we'll be able to tell and give them input to do the trials and tribulations of what should their message be as they take it to the rest of the country and the rest of the world.
MS. OLDSON: There's been this kind of long-running joke, except it's not really -- it's pretty true to form that Iowans expect to be courted personally one, two, three, four times by candidates. I mean, that's how savvy they have become in this process. And they want to talk to them one-on-one, they want to shake hands and they -- so, it truly is a one-on-one vetting process.
QUESTION: Ken Choi, Chosun Olbo daily newspaper from Korea. Can somebody explain what this straw poll -- upcoming straw poll is all about, and why Giuliani and McCain is like foregoing this thing?
SENATOR ZAUN: Well, I would just -- obviously this is a Republican straw poll convention and -- that we've had in the past. I can't comment on why they -- in fact, I just heard about it today in regards to them backing out of it. What the idea is, is it's an early test to the candidate's success. In the past, when it's not as weeded out, some candidates to the -- I would say the stronger, more organized candidates -- what you typically do is you typically go up there; they entertain you, there's tents all -- you know, all outside the coliseum that's up in Ames is where that's that. And you're entertained. They bring in top-name people, they feed you lunch. Obviously, then you go -- they want your support -- but then you go to the Hilton Coliseum, which is a very large coliseum, and you listen to each candidate give their reasons why they think they're the best candidate to be president. And then what happens is it -- it's -- it is, I would say, it's a very credible vote that is taken because you have to show your identification and then you vote for the candidate and what it is, is just an early test.
I can tell you that it is - it takes a lot of resources and a lot of organization to be a credible and successful candidate out of the straw poll, and in regards to what Senator McCain and Mayor Giuliani did, I don't -- really can't comment on -- I'm not -- I shouldn't comment on that. You'd have to ask those candidates.
QUESTION: Who gets to vote?
SENATOR ZAUN: Anyone that shows up at the convention gets to vote for their -- straw poll convention.
MR. RICH: That's what's interesting in this whole political process to me from the beginning is that if I've been a Democrat -- I was a Democrat in my early younger years and changed parties with the Reagan era. I guess they called that a Reagan Democrat at some point. But what's interesting is that Jo as a Democrat theoretically could go to the straw poll. It's citizens who believe, but typically that doesn't happen. Iowans have a conviction and when they have beliefs they'll go to their parties and really voice their opinions.
And that's the really unique thing of all this of how people can express their opinions, they'll get upset and they'll do everything. But the beauty about American politics is after we get done we don't, you know, take guns and get mad at people because it's all over. We go and we work on the next election if we don't like what happened; that's the fun part of this whole deal.
SENATOR ZAUN: The one thing that I would add is that three years ago, who had ever heard of Mitt Romney? No one. I didn't know who Mitt Romney was. Mitt Romney came in early, came in and got pretty organized and you could see the success that he's had because of the time commitment he spent in the state of Iowa, as well as other states. I really believe the Iowa caucuses needs and should be the first test for a candidate. It's different than just showing up and voting. You have to commit to some time to participate in a process and I think it's a great example, certainly in the Midwest and the whole United States of America. And to have a one-on-one conversation with those candidates and get to know them is an incredible experience and we're very privileged in Iowa that we get to be a part of that process.
You look at what the Iowa caucuses does to candidates and another unknown would be Jimmy Carter that really was not known and really dedicated himself to spending time with the -- in the Iowa caucuses. And there's more success stories about different candidates that became the nominee for President of the United States.
MR. RICH: Just coming in and buying the TV ads doesn't work. (Laughter.) I mean, it helps for recognition but once we've seen it -- last night we saw the two candidates. That was pretty impressive. And the security's trying to move them on like they do, but no, they want to come in and continue and remember to shake their hand. That's so much more personal.
QUESTION: Christian Wernicke also working for the Germany daily Sueddeutche Zeitung. I've been to Iowa, not to the caucus, but last year to this wonderful fair you have with all the --
MR. RICH: Yeah, absolutely.
MS. RAMSEY: Terrific.
QUESTION: Yeah, I enjoyed it very much. They had a lot of stuff I didn't try yet. (Laughter.)
MS. RAMSEY: Honesty, okay.
MR. RICH: You'll look like me if you eat too much of it. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Could you -- I understand that at the straw poll that only members of the Republican Party who are allowed to vote, right? And that's at the same time as the Iowa State Fair? I mean, just to get my diet right before that. (Laughter.)
SENATOR ZAUN: It is not and you need to exercise for the couch-throwing contest.
QUESTION: It's a serious question I have. Did anybody -- any economist of one of the distinguished universities you have in your state or maybe somebody else calculate what kind of financial or economic advantage this first-in-the-nation status gives the state of Iowa, I mean, either in terms of tourists and journalists and staffers who show up there, but also, I guess, in the amount, the billions of subsidies that -- one key word, I guess, is ethanol for this at the current time. I was sent in because of this privilege status. Thank you.
MS. RAMSEY: It's a very commonly asked question and a valuable question and I'd love the opportunity to respond. We -- I represent an economic development organization serving the Central Iowa area, the Greater Des Moines Partnership. And we have never done a formal analysis, an economic impact study. And the primary reason is because by what yardstick do we measure?
From cycle to cycle, every caucus cycle is different and it's because how many parties are participating, how many candidates are there in the party. We've never had a cycle of this type that has started so much earlier. We know that there is an economic impact involved, but when do we start measuring? Do we start measuring on Memorial Day? Do we start measuring January 1? Do we just measure the week of the caucuses when most of the activity takes place?
And then what do we measure? Because everyone in this room, if you come to Des Moines, you're not going to call me and tell me you're in town or what hotel you're staying in or how many times you're coming back or how long you're staying or what restaurants you're eating, and so -- and the candidates don't either. I mean, a lot of the activity is just on-going and it's never measurable because there's no one organization that's tracking what trips are actually connected to the caucus and what's incidental.
MR. RICH: It's an -- I think it's an interesting question. Now, Brian Lamb, who you all know at C-Span, I once asked him, you know, you helped influence the President of the United States. He's been in the cable business for years. And I said, do you ever think about that? He said, I thought about it that I'd be influencing. And I think I feel the same way about in a question of what's the financial and I never really thought about it because it doesn't matter. It's more important that we are as common in the personalities that I think that happens in the Midwest give the presidential candidates a chance to get to reality in what most of America thinks and a good cross-section of America rather than just in the beltway to find out what's going on. And I think that's the most important value that comes out of what the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primaries do.
QUESTION: Hi. This is Elizabeth West with the Asahi Shimbun. I was wondering, to get a real feel of the caucus system, would you recommend going to one in an urban or a rural setting?
MR. RICH: I think you've got to try to cover both or have a couple people in both because you want a real sense. I think it gives you -- that's again the cross-section. It's like saying would you just go this area of your home country or this area. And we are really pretty diverse when you go around and you'll see just the huge -- and the technology and the huge boom of the economy in Central Iowa and now the new rural areas with all of the biofuel and all of the (inaudible) talking about fuel and the exciting things that are happening with the bio-economy in Iowa.
You really need to spend just a little extra time and experience it all. It's like the food at State Fair. If you just had a corndog, you know, you need to have the fried fritters or the fried Snicker bars too. So I guess if you had to go to just one, what would you say to that?
MS. OLDSON: I don't -- that would be hard because you're going to get a really different flavor in an urban area than you are in a rural area. In an urban area you're going to be in a schoolroom or a church room or something. If you go out in some rural places you're going to be sitting in somebody's living room or around the kitchen table or something.
A PARTICIPANT: Somebody -- if they have overalls or they're Amish then to the person in the full suit and driving the Mercedes. I mean, you're really able to see it all when you come.
QUESTION: Hi, my name is Kim Landers from Australian Broadcasting. I just wanted to ask about this possibility of the date being moved forward. Who gets to determine when the caucus is held? How much notice is given about a change of date? I think you mentioned something about perhaps late summer. So I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit more about that.
MS. RAMSEY: You've seen a lot of media coverage on the frontloading end of it and what that implication has for all of the states that are involved and what that does even to the candidate's ability to afford to run because of the means that they have to have ready and the organization they have to have so early in the process.
What we would -- what we're anticipating and boy, this is the subject in Iowa, you sit down in any coffee shop and this topic comes up somewhere along the line. And what we're very sensitive to is with Florida's decision, and we anticipate that South Carolina might move up because they want to make sure that their prominence in the process is not diminished whatsoever and that that's going to put some frontloading then pressure. Nevada could be moving up. If Nevada moves, you know New Hampshire -- and New Hampshire's really right now where we think the ball is sitting in their court. But we fully anticipate that New Hampshire could certainly decide to move up and if they do, what date is that? And then by state resolution, our state has declared that we will be first.
And so we would have to actually call a special session of our legislature back to Des Moines to sit down and decide what would be necessary because currently our rule is that it has to be in the year of the election. Well, what if New Hampshire decides to go on January 4th? How do we precede New Hampshire and stay in the same election year? So it could -- and this is all a completely what-if -- but the kind of conversations that are being discussed, well, what if this happens? So it could potentially cause the state legislature to go into special session to change that rule so that we can have it in a previous year, and then, as was -- as Keith brought up earlier, what happens with our football season because how are you going to get people to voluntarily leave the football games and come out and participate four hours in a January Monday and talk about politics, so -- and the holidays.
And there are just a whole lot of other implications. Yesterday we met with the Washington Post and Ruth Marcus was -- I really strongly believe -- lobbying for a September start to the caucus process in Iowa because she doesn't like January weather. (Laughter.) And so, you know, it -- this is far-reaching and a lot of it is just for humor's sake, but we do believe that there is a very strong likelihood and it's the parties who, you know, who ultimately decide what night it's going to be in Iowa.
But I think it is -- we're waiting to see what the Governor of Massachusetts decides and we don't anticipate we'll know what New Hampshire's going to do until late summer because why would he tip his hand and let the other states move up their date? You know, if he decides in late summer, there won't be a way for anybody to move up because their organization needs to be done in place.
In our state, there are over 4,000 -- it's about 4300-plus of meetings that have to be organized, locations that have to be found for those meetings, some of them for hundreds of people. Chairs have to be -- or someone -- central committee, I think, has to decide who is going to be the person to organize and get the process started and make sure all the paperwork's done and everybody has the right forms to fill out. And so there's an organization that at some point in time, it's just not possible to do it any, you know, more quickly.
QUESTION: What is that sort of deadline -- I mean, like you're talking about the Governor of Massachusetts, I mean, they can't decide, you know, a fortnight before or a month before.
MS. RAMSEY: Right.
QUESTION: You're saying it needs more time than that to --
MS. RAMSEY: We're thinking August or September, so -- and this is all speculation, you know. But we're certainly anticipating it and we think that it probably will happen.
QUESTION: Philippe Gelie, I'm with the French daily Le Figaro. Could it be that the Iowa caucuses are less relevant this year since the "Super-Duper Tuesday" will be really where it all happens?
MS. RAMSEY: Anyone want to take that? I think it's only more punctuated what's going in Iowa for 2008. What it means, you know, for the next cycle is beyond my expertise. But anybody want to add to it?
MR. RICH: Brad's point again goes back to -- I mean, which is better? Is it better to allow one or two states where the vote concept, where you just buy a bunch of TV ads and try to drive it in two weeks, and whoever's the most popular after who can make the best commercial and do that; or more of the grassroots approach which is the way the Iowa caucuses are, to let them flesh it out and talk face-to-face and get feedback rather than just tell everybody everything all the time and not hear anything back? This is a way, I think, that is -- feels much more genuine and why it's been in the position it has. So I think it is very important to have it as the first, but we -- you know, we're here to participate in the process and help where we can.
QUESTION: Hi. Tim Shipman from the Sunday Telegraph in London. Just a very techy question on how the votes are all kind of added up. Is it a statewide ballot in both cases with both parties? Or if you win a town hall meeting of 2,000 people by majority do you get all the votes from that town hall meeting or is it totaled out across the whole state?
MR. RICH: Good question.
MS. RAMSEY: It's different between parties and so I'll let both of them respond for their own parties since that's where their experience is.
SENATOR ZAUN: And we -- what -- these meetings are organized by the particular party. The state of Iowa does not get involved in picking locations or anything. I assisted the last time to find -- every senator or representative from their own district helps assist where these meetings are going to be held. We have a paper vote and it is a standard form that we have throughout the state republican caucuses. And it is not -- and then of course the Democrats -- I'll let Jo -- I've never been to a Democratic caucus.
MS. OLDSON: Well -- imagine.
QUESTION: When you're done do they fax it in or call it into a central so it will all be compiled in one --
MR. RICH: Yes.
QUESTION: But do they show -- it will show then that there are 343, 222 -- it isn't win all. It's the raw numbers will be compiled to one.
SENATOR ZAUN: That is correct.
MS. OLDSON: And ours is, in the end analysis, not much different other than the fact that we don't do it by secret ballot. We do it by -- we split off into preference group -- candidate preference groups and literally hold our hands up to vote. The numbers are then compiled by precinct and delegates are prorated out by precinct, so candidate X gets, you know, the most votes they get the higher number of delegates going on to convention; then candidate Y who maybe came in second. And candidate Y, second and third place people may still get delegates, they're just aren't going to get as many.
SENATOR ZAUN: And let me just tell you, from a security standpoint and to make this a legitimate, you know, election or a caucus that night, what we have is we've got a system where there's several -- you'll go into the meeting, they'll make appointments on who is running the caucus, who is going to be counting the ballots. There's a -- what it is to keep everybody honest is one neighbor or several neighbors looking over the shoulder of another neighbor just to make sure that those are legitimate numbers that we get. And I think it's great because it really gives everybody a chance to be part of the process and it really legitimizes that particular night and the turnout in the final numbers.
MR. RICH: Think of it in terms of trends. I mean, what -- the Iowa caucus is more of a trend than I can say an official count because it isn't official in that anything's legal. It's a trend of what people are getting in candidates. So if it's off two votes here or there, it's the trend of who really was expected to be way down here and ends up here during the Iowa caucuses, because once that's done if I'm a Mitt Romney supporter and I go to -- and so two delegates go to the county, those two delegates could then go behind a different candidate when they get to county. Those candidates go behind a different candidate by the time it gets to the districts and then to state which ultimately goes to national and so, you know, it still is part of the overall process, it can change as the candidates come and go and build popularity throughout the summer. But it's the beginning of the grassroots that makes this so vital.
MS. RAMSEY: A buzzword that you'll hear talk about with caucus is viability, candidate viability, because if you've got 50 people in a room and there's only two people for one candidate, they really -- they won't get a percentage enough to get a candidate and you can't send a percentage of a candidate or a delegate on to the next level. So there may be some people in the room who are supporting and especially in a year when we have such a broad field, there may be some people who are supporting a candidate who isn't going to get a delegate and then that's when the lobbying starts and, you know, the one camp over here will say, well, you can't get a delegate, so why don't you come join us and help us build our team up and that's when you start pitting, you know, wives against husbands and neighbors against neighbors. And you know, it does -- it gets pretty excited. And you know people are very passionate about the person that they're behind and for them to surrender those -- that passion and that belief and go for another candidate the next time. Sometimes you'll have people going in and say, well I'm going to be one of three people and I haven't decided yet, so let's hear what you got, and will invite the discussions. And it can be really a lot of fun.
QUESTION: One more question again to -- concerning this straw poll, what does it mean if -- for this straw poll if two of the potential of four major contenders drop out? And you spoke of the viability -- is it a real test still?
SENATOR ZAUN: I think that it is still going to be all about organization. Really to me it's very unfortunate that those two candidates decided to step down. Obviously to me, you know, there might be -- they don't have the organization in place that they were -- that they maybe thought they had. I can tell you that I did hear that Fred Thompson is -- what I heard today is that he's going to consider seriously about being in the straw poll convention and that'll be a good test.
Bottom line here is it is just a test is what it is. I don't think it has any outcome on what your potential success is in the Iowa caucuses, but it's a test. And to me what it's done in the past is it's weeded out candidates. And you know, that straw poll convention, if you're successful at that straw poll convention, I think you're going to be successful in fundraising. And so I still think that's a very important part of the process and the jury is out on what effect that will have on the outcome the last day.
MODERATOR: Is there any other delegate that --
QUESTION: Hello. I'm Hiroki Sugita with Kyodo News. Could you address again the other state decision to move the primaries and the caucuses date for -- but how -- basically, what do you think? I think it's troubling you, I guess. But could you address this question, please?
SENATOR ZAUN: Yeah. The one thing I want to say is the legislature in a bipartisan way is committed to being the first test in a presidential process. So if we have to go back, I can't commit and I can't speak for the full legislature because I'm not the leader of the majority party. But certainly the governor can call us back and you know, we are as a body committed to being the first test. So hopefully we won't have to do that, but certainly I would speak for most of the legislature that we will do what's necessary to make sure we're the first test.
QUESTION: Hi. Brandon Lambert with Japan's FUJI Television. Back to the straw poll, I guess I'm not clear on can the candidates who don't participate still receive votes. In other words, could this actually work to their advantage where they do not put forth any effort, but yet have a good showing?
SENATOR ZAUN: Absolutely. Everyone is still -- you know, the potential for being voted on that day is there. The straw poll, and I encourage you all to come up to that, because the straw poll convention is a very organized event to get people from all four corners of the state of Iowa to Ames, Iowa. To do that, it takes -- you know, we're talking about Saturday in August. It takes a lot of organization and they could still be, you know, be -- they still can be successful. If they're the most popular candidate, people are going to go up there and they're going to vote for the candidate that they like.
I can tell you that there is a lot of entertainment beforehand. There is the very large tents that are set up all over the grounds around the Hilton Coliseum which is Iowa State University, and they have all kinds of entertainment, speeches. The candidates will give speeches, rallying marches. If you are a strong candidate and I think that if you are a credible candidate that you need to be participating in the straw poll convention. And I do know this, that if you have people that support whoever that candidate is that maybe is not participating, you still can vote for him that day.
MODERATOR: One more.
QUESTION: A question about who is eligible to vote on the day, what sort of identification? Do you have to show a particular sort of party affiliation identification that you're a registered voter in some way? What do you have to show on the day?
MS. OLDSON: Yeah. Generally you have to -- and I got to think back and I suspect it differs by precinct. I mean, you know, if you walk into a little precinct that's got five people around the table, they know each other and they know -- if they're registered active Democrats or Republicans, whichever.
MS. RAMSEY: I've had that kind of precinct. We all know each other.
A PARTICIPANT: Yeah, most of us do.
MS. OLDSON: Yeah. If you're walking into a larger precinct where you got several hundred people in there, then you will show identification that you are a registered voter as of the date of the next coming election. Now, anybody can show -- a lot of precincts you'll have high school students come in and, you know, observe the process and just, you know, and learn from it. But they cannot participate as a voting person.
QUESTION: They must be registered?
MS. OLDSON: Yeah. They have to be registered. Yes.
QUESTION: Registered as a Democrat or registered as a Republican?
MS. OLDSON: It depends because there is a Republican caucus and a Democratic caucus, but we don't mix; we're in different buildings -- yeah, in different rooms.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) registered Republicans and Democrats.
MS. OLDSON: Right.
QUESTION: So how about an independent? Do they have to choose a party at that time?
MS. OLDSON: Have to choose a party, as a registered -- and we have the majority of people in Iowa registered as independents currently, but that can change because you can change your party affiliation right there at the door. If you walk into the door and say I'd like to participate tonight, I'm a registered independent, you can change your party affiliation to a party of your choice.
MR. RICH: And if you're a Democrat and you're a Republican, do the same thing -- you can change your party that night if you wanted to.
MS. OLDSON: And you can go back and change it the next week and, you know, remain. But you can if you if you want to participate, you're able to participate, but you have to be a registered voter and you have to declare a party.
QUESTION: And the straw poll is the same?
SENATOR ZAUN: Correct.
QUESTION: Where is the party affiliation because -- I mean, in Britain you don't register for a party, you just right for whoever you want when it comes around, you don't ever register. Who keeps -- I mean, if you can change it that easily, I mean, who holds those records? I mean --
MS. OLDSON: County function. Each county keeps an elections office and keeps the elections record. There is an election office -- an election officer in each county.
SENATOR ZAUN: Just one thing I want to add is that those, first of all, lists of everyone that's registered as a Republican in whatever that particular precinct is, they check that when they come in the door. They have to show identification. You can't just show -- there is forms because of our state law that you could switch parties if you would like to, but it is very -- it's very credible because we make sure that there isn't people just coming in from out of state to show up to move somebody's vote up one or the other. So most people know everybody around the state of Iowa, you'll know two or three. And -- but you are checked -- you are checked off and your identification is cleared.
MS. RAMSEY: As a lawmaker, he's very -- you know, he wants to make sure you understand the process well.
SENATOR ZAUN: I hold in my hand a voter registration card from Iowa. And across the top here, it says "Party" and there's a D there. And it says the polling place and it lists the address, St. Joseph Parrish Center and the address where you go to vote. And so it's on your voter registration card.
QUESTION: I would just follow up quickly, do you have any mechanism for tracking independents who might go to the Democratic caucus and sign up as Democrats and then a day later, go to Republican and vote against their -- a candidate that they don't like?
SENATOR ZAUN: It all happens at the same time.
MS. OLDSON: It's all the same night.
MS. RAMSEY: I would also let you know that the media are welcome to come in and watch the process. It's a very open process. So if you wanted to sit in, either on a very small town-type of caucus and see how that happens or you want to go see a large metro area throughout our community, you're more than welcome to come into that process. You just check with the -- whoever's elected chairman of the caucus and they will let you know.
MR. RICH: And let's remember the historical building because they'll be doing all sorts of things with student groups teaching them how the process works.
MS. RAMSEY: If your idea is you'd rather be where all the votes are collected, all the counties call into the state and then the state usually sets up a headquarters in one of the larger community buildings in downtown Des Moines and that's where all the people will be to see who's leading and when all the numbers finally come in. There is some (inaudible) election night and you can find out who won the caucus.
MR. RICH: You can be very rural if you, or if that is the audience you're looking at and within 30 minutes be downtown in Des Moines that evening or you can probably get two or three on the same evening and see both and up at Des Moines headquarters. Both the Republican and Democrats will be within a few blocks.
SENATOR ZAUN: And I would extend an invitation. I am up for re-election. (Laughter.)
MS. OLDSON: And I am always up for re-election. (Laughter.)
SENATOR ZAUN: The people that you represent are not my constituents, but I would tell you that I would extend an invitation to anyone that would like to follow me because what I do is I travel that night and I hit -- and they give candidates opportunities to give a little two or three minute presentation. Obviously these are people from my party and I have business cards here and I extend the invitation. So if you really want to see a flavor, I'm going to be going to several caucuses that night.
MODERATOR: Do you have a last word?
MS. RAMSEY: Well, I would just say again, you can see how passionate we are about the process and we're not unusual in Iowa. We're a very engaged community. You obviously are very engaged in your job because you've asked some great questions here tonight. I know you'll have questions as we get closer down and things change and candidates' faces change and their rankings change and we're more than happy to chat with you about the issues that are important to our communities, the candidates and how things are fleshing out as the process gets further on. Allow us to be your resource, visit the website, do come back. I know the content will richen as we get deeper into the cycle. And should you have the opportunity to come
And should you have the opportunity to come, we would love to offer you whatever information that's helpful to you to get your jobs done well. We're a very friendly community and we'd be privileged to be your host while you're there. But if you don't have the opportunity, please just feel free to pick up the phone or get on line and e-mail us and let us know what your questions are and if we can be helpful for you as you're covering the whole process. And thank you again for the opportunity.
MODERATOR: Thank you very much, all, for being here.
