State's votes gaining respect

Convention, date draw attention to February caucuses

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Waak

Wadhams

Waak

Wadhams

If there were a movie titled Caucus, Iowa would be an above-the-title marquee name that commanded $20 million a picture.

In the same movie, Colorado might be found in the credits under "Also starring" and likely would be paid scale.

Yes, believe it or not, Colorado has a caucus - one of a handful of states that uses a system where people gather in meeting halls and throw support behind candidates.

But because the state always held them so late in the primary season, nominees already were known and only a few political junkies would bother to participate.

The 2008 election is expected to be different.

Early date spurs interest

For the Democrats, it's two-fold. Pat Waak, state chair for the Democratic Party, said there is huge interest in the caucuses because people also want to run for delegate due to the Democratic National Convention being held in Denver.

And then there's the sheer competitive nature of the race. On Feb. 5, more than 20 states - including Colorado - will see people select nominees from both parties. According to Dick Wadhams, state chair for the Republican Party, people in Colorado will have a real sense of purpose in the selection process.

"That is why I supported moving them from March 18 to Feb. 5 because I felt like Feb. 5 will be the day the parties nominate their candidates for president," Wadhams said.

As for the mystery surrounding the caucus process, both party chairs admit some of that is due to low participation.

GOP, Dem's rules vary

On the Republican side, there will be gatherings around the state the evening of Feb. 5 and, at each gathering, people will vote for the nominee they like. The results will then filter back to party headquarters and a total vote will be tallied. The nominee with the most votes wins.

The catch, Wadhams said, is that if the national nominee isn't the same as the nominee that wins the Colorado caucus, Republican delegates are not bound to support the winner of the state and will instead throw their support to the overall winner of the nomination process at the convention.

On the Democratic side, Waak said at the caucus there will be a vote and each nominee must receive at least 15 percent of the vote total. Subsequent votes then continue until one nominee has the most votes.

Waak said one difference between the Democrats' process and the Republicans' is that Democratic nominees who come in second or third on caucus night usually release their delegates to the national nominee if the Colorado nominee and national nominee aren't the same. But not always.

In 2004, most of Colorado's delegates were with John Kerry by the time of the convention in Boston, Waak pointed out.

But at least a handful of delegates for Dennis Kucinich were not released to Kerry.

• December 29, 2007

  5:15 a.m.

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  JohnSWren writes:

  Learn more, and let us know what you think about the Colorado Caucus. Join us for the Denver Grassroots Rally, next Friday, January 4, 4 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant here in Denver. More info and RSVP at http://cocacop.meetup.com/2