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Democratic Primaries

Arkansas Granny

(32,264 posts) Sun Feb 2, 2020, 09:57 AM Feb 2020

Someone please explain to me why Iowa is so important in choosing the Democratic nominee. [View all]

1. Iowa ranks 31st in the nation in population size.
2. Iowa Is a conservative state.
3. The caucus system keeps many eligible voters from participating in the process.

I don't understand why such a small segment of our population carries so much weight. I have very similar feelings about New Hampshire.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

18 replies

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Someone please explain to me why Iowa is so important in choosing the Democratic nominee. [View all] Arkansas Granny Feb 2020 OP

My understanding is that Iowa has determined to go first bluedye33139 Feb 2020 #1

Caucuses are because in 1974, some dude decided that was how we were going to to do it Bettie Feb 2020 #2

Because there is no way to change it without Iowa raising holy hell. Loki Liesmith Feb 2020 #3

In 1992, candidate Bill Clinton got less than 3% of the vote in Iowa. Sloumeau Feb 2020 #4

I don't understand it either. TheCowsCameHome Feb 2020 #5

It's not. MineralMan Feb 2020 #6

Other than....Oooo! Shiny!.....for the media to drone on and on about... paleotn Feb 2020 #7

I am not paying any attention to the results in Iowa katmondoo Feb 2020 #9

i think it's only significance RazBerryBeret Feb 2020 #8

Because we make it so MichMan Feb 2020 #10

We have one Election Day. Why not one Primary Day? C_U_L8R Feb 2020 #11

Candidates would spend 90% of their campaigning in the handful of states with the most delegates MichMan Feb 2020 #12

True. Maybe the solution is to mix things up a bit in tranches C_U_L8R Feb 2020 #14

Good. nt Codeine Feb 2020 #17

Don't they already do that to a large degree? Arkansas Granny Feb 2020 #16

It isn't. Bloomberg knows that. While everyone rips each other apart over Iowa with its Squinch Feb 2020 #13

It's totally arbitrary. Just tradition/inertia. DanTex Feb 2020 #15

Because we allow it. Codeine Feb 2020 #18