Posted on 12/19/2011, 5:03:18 PM by mnehring
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad warned against Democratic caucus crashers who could try to influence the Iowa selection system as a way to nominate the weakest Republican candidate to face off against President Obama.
“That’s been tried from time to time and you know what happened four years ago? A lot of independents and even some Republicans actually got involved and that actually helped Obama beat Hillary Clinton and guess what? They actually got Obama for president,” said Branstad, a Republican. “Now some of those people are having second thoughts about it.”
Branstad made the comments today when asked about the issue from reporters. He emphasized that he hopes people choose to register Republican and participate in the caucuses for the right reasons instead of with the intent to hijack the caucuses.
“Instead of playing the political game, we ought to look at who can be the best and strongest candidate,” Branstad said.
Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds plan to participate in Saturday’s Ames straw poll event but declined to say who they would be voting for.
Branstad called the event an expectation game.
“It’s certainly designed to be a fair, objective deal,” Branstad said, noting that Iowans must show identification to be able to vote in the Republican fundraiser.
He continued: “Now remember, it’s not scientific and you have to go to Ames and it costs $30 to participate but it’s a lot of fun.”
He responded to questions about the straw poll’s relevance.
“I think the straw poll is an important first test,” Branstad said. “It’s not just who wins it, it’s about who beats expectations. . . It’s an expectation game. It’s not only who wins but who beats expectations.”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60878.html#ixzz1h05DvB00
This is why ron Paul will win Iowa.
IMHO, more likely for Ron Paul.
Caucuses are really out of date in today’s world.
Why not just ballots like the rest of the country? ......
I would also choose not to eat dog turds.
If someone held a gun to my and said eat a dog turd or you will die and your family would also die; I might eat the dog turd to save my family
But if it was Ron Paul; I know I would die anyway and so would my family; so I wouldn't eat the turd.
Does no one else here remember Operation Chaos from back in ‘08?
Democrat morality on display: the end justifies the means.
Obama is their perfect candidate.
Ballots are provided at the caucus. The Dems do things differently however; they go stand in groups for each candidate.
But our side ballots are provided to fill out; they are then tallied with representatives of each candidate present as they are counted.
Important to remember the caucus is a party meeting where other business also gets done.
Looks like Paul has the crazy vote locked up.
Good point. It was wrong on our side at that time. It seems childish to do.
Sounds to me like sour grapes... weakest candidate, unelectable Ron Paul?!?! The GOP machine will do what ever it has to do to stop Paul... including the Democrats. Which in case you haven’t noticed are all playing for the same team. or did we forget?
Well, there’s the answer to your problem!
Just make sure the ballots are printed in ENGLISH and at a 12th grade reading level.
The Dems will be completely baffled.................
....oh, and no pictures of the candidates..................
Branstad is more right than you. Iowa has a grossly inflated sense of self-importance. Unfortunately, candidates will continue going to Iowa so long as the media circus is there. The only way to stop it would be convincing all candidates to skip Iowa. Good luck with that!
The proper response would be party rules giving states which caucus or primary later more delegates for waiting. Admitting registered party voters only would also be part of the solution.
Aren’t they just called Ron Paul supporters?
LLS
prebieus has the job of defending the status quo.
LLS
The problem is they register. I think they need to register and vote in the previous primary to be eligable. I think you should be able to take that with you when you move but if you didn’t vote in the last primary you have to wait an election to vote in the next primary.
These Dems and Libertarians are all Ron Paul voters. That is why he will do well in Iowa. I said a long time ago in a post on FR, that Ron Paul could very well win in Iowa. For this exact reason, crossover voters. Ron Paul is a Libertarian, clean clear through. And has a lot of young Dem voters behind him too, because of his anti-war, isolationist stance. Iowa’s primary caucus vote means nothing anymore, as it is so skewed as to be a joke.
So the Dems will do anything to eliminate Paul by voting for him? Alrighty then. Love that paulrhoid logic.
LLS
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