Guest post from Andrew Deen
Caucuses were the original method for selecting candidates until the primary was introduced in the early 1900’s, but this doesn’t mean caucuses lost all their importance. Fourteen states are scheduled to hold caucuses this year with the first event right around the corner on February 1st in Iowa. There cannot be enough said about the results that come out of this first caucus. Since 1976, eight of the last ten Democratic presidential candidates who have won the state’s caucus have gone on to win their party’s nomination. Similar results have been seen in the Republican party with six of the last ten caucus winners becoming the GOP’s nominee.
As candidates prepare to make their last push across Iowa, caucus voters continue to change their minds leading up to the date. On January 28th, a new poll was released showing that Donald Trump has just pulled ahead of Ted Cruz with a seven-point lead and Hillary Clinton remains only three points in front of Bernie Sanders. So will the Iowa caucus determine the presidency? We will just have to wait and find out.
To learn more about the election year, primaries and caucuses read the New England College of Public Policy infographic below and do not forget to go VOTE.
by Andrew Deen
Posted 1/31/16
Andrew Deen is reporting his discovering on the 2016 election. He is a political science enthusiast and loves presidential debates. Contact him by email or Twitter@AndrewDeen14
2 Comments on "Will Iowa Determine The Winner? Some Caucus History Background"
PLEASE go out, and caucus for Bernie. and bring all your friends and family!!! We really need this political revolution, and we’re totally counting on you, Iowa!!! Feel the Bern!!! WE can do it!!!!!!
On the D’s who won NH and then the nomination, shouldn’t it be Obama’s uncontested 2012 primary and not the contested 2008 one that Clinton won?