Posted on 02/10/2008 12:30:45 AM PST by CyberCowboy777
As a member of the Washington State Republican State Committee I wanted to make sure some information about the caucus got out.
49% of WA delegates are decided by the Caucus and Convention process. After Feb 9th Caucuses, the next step is the County Conventions, at which time delegates elected on Feb. 9th meet to discuss the Platform and Elect delegates to the State Convention. It is at the State Convention that the delegates from each county meet by Congressional District to elect delegates to the National Convention (with a promise of a vote on the first balloting).
51% are allocated to the Primary candidate who wins the Primary Ballot by Congressional District on Feb 1th. This ballot must be cast by Feb. 19th. Anyone who considers themselves a Republican may vote in this primary and it DOES COUNT!
This split allocation is brand new to Washington State and is only being done by the Republicans. In the past (and currently with the Democrats) Delegates are decided by the Caucus and Convention process only.
Excerpt: "Washington switched from a caucus system to primaries in 1992, after Pat Robertson won among Republicans and Jesse Jackson finished a solid second among Democrats in 1988.
But Democrats have never chosen to allocate delegates according to the results, preferring to use the results from party caucuses for that. In 2000 Bill Bradley, having lost in Iowa and New Hampshire and having no other states to contest for five weeks, came into Washington for the February 29 contest. To no avail; Al Gore won by about 2–1.
George W. Bush beat John McCain by a razorthin margin in a contest that counted a little toward delegate selection.
In 2004 Washington’s Democrats held caucuses February 7, which counted for nothing and got little notice.
In early 2007 the parties were divided on what to do in 2008. Republicans and Secretary of State Sam Reed wanted to hold a primary on February 5 that would count toward electing delegates; Democrats were divided, with many for eliminating the primary.
In June, a bipartisan panel of state lawmakers and party leaders came to agreement and voted unanimously to hold the primary on February 19, 2008, in the hopes of being early enough to be relevant but not so early as to get lost amid the many states holding February 5 contests. Both parties also will hold caucuses on February 9.
Republicans will allocate roughly half of their delegates based on primary results; Democrats will only use caucus results to allocate delegates." - Fox News Feb. 9-10 Primaries & Caucuses Brainroom Briefing Book
The delay in Reporting by the Washington State Republican Party on the Delegate Leanings is due to the fact that this was the first time this system has been used by Republicans. The County Party organizations must tally the results and report, this has never been done before.
With individual Caucuses (sometimes hundreds in a county) reporting to the County and then the county to the State, all done on paper, it can be very time consuming.
The results you are seeing are really only the "leanings" or "Presidential Preference" of the delegates elected to their respective County Conventions. They are not guaranteed votes or actual delegates to the National Convention.
These results only really give an indication of the direction the Washington State Republican Party is going with its 49% of delegates assigned by the County and Convention process.
Some have complained that they did not get an opportunity to really debate issues or candidates.
First, the rules REQUIRE that resolutions and business pertaining to the Caucus be allowed.
Second, in many precincts, or in "pooled" caucuses (where many or all precincts meet together) long debate or many resolutions are limited (by motion from the floor) because: a. most are not there to here debate for hours (most just want to cast a "ballot" and go. b. time is limited by the rules, we must begin voting by 2:30 and no sooner than 1:30. c. many PCOs and Chairs want to make it fun, this is really about building the grassroots and we want folks to have a pleasant experience if at all possible. (sorry to those that did not)
Truly, getting yourself elected to the County Convention is the best option for those that want to influence the Party Platform, debate candidates and present resolutions. It is expected at the Convention and all those in attendance know what is coming.
If you like the process and want "deep" discussion, get elected to the County Convention.
Hope this helps.
We had an estimated 400+ in attendance at the 2008 Cowlitz County Precinct Caucuses.
We elected 300 Delegates to the County Convention (265 Elected, 35 Automatic PCOs).
Our Delegate Presidential Preference count:
(This is the indicated Presidential Preference of those elected as a Delegate to the County Convention)
Romney - 96 (32%)
Huckabee - 80 (26.6%)
Paul - 52 (17.3%)
McCain - 49 (16.3%)
Uncommitted - 23 (7.6%)
Attendee un-official Straw Poll:
Romney - 106 (32.4%)
Huckabee - 82 (25%)
McCain - 55 (16.8%)
Paul - 43 (13.1%)
Uncommitted - 38 (11.6%)
Thompson - 1 (0.1%)
Giuliani - 1 (0.1%)
Keys - 1 (0.1%)
PING
Thank you for the information. I couldn’t make it over to the Kelso High School, so sorry. Seems like the majority felt like me - uncommitted.
Thanks
ping
thanks. I think it is too late for mind to work, seems complicated. I’ll try again tomorrow. Nice to see my guy Mitt came in first though.
It is complicated, and that is too bad.
Old habits die hard and both party organizations like to hold onto tradition.
In the past nobody cared because the Presidential Primary was already decided by the time Washington voted, this year we moved up and it is still an open contest.
Get some sleep.
Many still are....
Please remmber that this entire Caucus & Convention process is bottom up, completely grassroots and all Volunteer.
Each Precinct is counting paper ballots by hand, sending results to the County Party, then the County Party is consolidating the results and sending them up to the State party.
For those in primary only states (especially where you register by party). You have a completely automated process with paid staff. Your ballot goes to the County (tax payer paid staff)and results are sent to the State (tax payer paid staff), all run by the State and paid for by the tax payers.
A lot of money is spent for those “instant” results.
Thanks. Yeah tomorrow (later today) Too complicated right now.
A few more details that I know.
18 RNC delegates will be chose at the caucus/convention as you describe
19 RNC delegates will be chose during the Feb. 19th primary
3 more delegates for the state of Washington are the two Washington state Republican National Committee members and the state Republican party chairman (every state gets these 3 “super delegates”)
The Dec. 19th primary is a “Winner Take All” primary at the district level, and proportional for the at-large delegates.
As best as I can tell, since there’s 9 congressional districts and 10 at-large delegates, then during the primary there will be 1 delegate selected by each congressional district, while the 10 at-large delegates will be split up to approximate statewide vote totals.
This is not a Activism/Chapters post. Learn how to post properly.
It wasn't that at all.
The Grassroots activism of the party is not Activism?
And why so grumpy?
Yes
Elect delegates that represent you, by majority vote.
Ask questions, ask preference, ask if they would consider vote for another. It is up to you to ask the questions.
If you don’t have the votes to prevent something... bring more votes.
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