Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary - Number one!

In June of 2009 I spent two hours with Bill Gardner the Secretary of State of New Hampshire. He is in the blue shirt on the left, I'm in the middle and Peter Hildreth, Comish of Banking for New Hampshire and a long-time friend of Gardners when they served in the Hew Hampshire House is on the right. Peter, a very smart observer of New Hampshire government and politics, kindly arranged for the meeting.

Remember that Secretary of State is - SOS, the long time distress call of mariners!

In the case of Gardner nothing could be more apt. He's the one we call to fix primary politics every four years when it's about to go off the rail!

Brian Mooney of the Boston Globe wrote that "William M. Gardner may be the single most powerful man in the nation when it comes to setting the schedule of contests that will nominate the presidential candidates of both parties next year. But you'd never know it to drop by his office on the second floor of the venerable granite State House." (July 9, 2007)

I could not have put it better myself.

His office is small, cluttered, cozy, and totally unpretentious. So is Gardner - I mean, only the unpretentious part because he is well groomed, fit, and tall!

Gardner is a remarkable man who sets aside his own political views, loyalties, and ambitions and serves the cause of having New Hampshire give every little guy or gal the chance to run for President of the United States. l

Literally.

You fill ot a form in a very dignified way in the SOS's office in Concord at a special table, pay your $1,000 fee and you are now officially a candidate for President of the United States in the primary of the State of New Hampshire. Garder even has a glass covered framed exhibit of the lesser candidates right next to a vertible Louvre of the "major", big shot candidates who have run for President over the years in the Granite State primary.

And oh the stories I could tell you about snafus, glitches, arrogance, courtesies, and all manner of behavior from the distinguished folks who want to lead the republic! But I can't and won't because Gardner is a real gentleman who would never embarrass anyone in public. A man who truly believes that a primary in a small and attentive state and well as the more cumbersome but fascinating presidential First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses afford evey candidate and the voters and media of the United States a valuable opportunity to be heard and seen.

I imagine that Garder would be the kind of lawyer who would never lose a case. He is tenacious, a true believer in the New Hampshire process, and very well prepared. He is soft spoken but has an intensity i have rarely seen in a person. When we spoke (I should say when he told the riveting stories of the battles to keep the process of Iowa first and New Hampshire first too - caucuses and primary) his eyes sparkled. He remembered every name, phone call, reporter, columns they had written andn what they said, every return phone call, waiting game, abd strategic move anyone had made.

Gardner is the steward of the US presidential selection process and when we see how crucial the state has been ion the past in shaping the campaign to follow, it is no woder that Garnder has been reappointed SOS in New Hampshire by Democrats as well as republicans.

Talk about Mr. Bi-partisan or nonpartisan! Others could learn a great deal about this from Bill Gardner.

How's President Obama Doing so far?

A former student of mine who is now a navy officer in the Atlantic asked in a recent e-mail how I thought Pres. Obama (shown in this picture with his junior crew and the ships mascot) is doing.

I responded in Navy talk.

Since you asked, President, or as I like to call him, “Commander” Obama is trying like crazy to steer the USA out of the troubled and dangerous waters into which the previous captain and first officer navigated her.

But, he’s the captain of a ship with a starboard list, taking on water, has a broken shaft, and a badly fouled propeller. The fuel is running low and he’s run out of rum rations for the crew, the provisions have turned moldy, and the sailors have scurvy.

So far the ONLY good news is that there has not been a mutiny yet (Capt Obama’s approval ratings are still high at about 60%) but there are rumblings already. He has a “... limited amount of time to convince the public (his crew) that he is taking the right courses [assuming his GPS is working and the charts are correct LOL] and a finite period before the problems that he inherited become identified as his own political liabilities” according to the latest LA Times article.

However, his poll numbers are now slipping and there is concern that he has set the wrong course and is heading his ship of state towards Health Reform reef, the GMCBailout archipelago, and into hurricane DeficitSpending.

Other than that it's smooth sailing for the United States.

Oh by the way, did you take your Dramamine?!

I think I see white caps up ahead.

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Should we have caucuses in 2012?

when I posted this discussion I worte "This blog is suspended until the next national election but we will monitor what's going on and how the conversation turns on the importance of the Iowa caucuses and first in the nation New Hampshire primaries."

CANCEL THAT!

After my two hour visit with Bill Gardner the charming Secretary of State of New Hampshire and the "GODFATHER" of the First in the Nation Primary and defender of the First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses, I cannot stop!

As we have discussed before, we favor a set of regional primaries in 2012 that follow the first in the nation caucuses in Iowa and the New Hampshire primary. These two are great testing grounds for candidates and a great opportunity for candidates with small budgets. After that it's all media and all money!

We now know that to change the presidential selection system to one where any big block of states would shut down the remaining primary campaigns would be a political disaster.

1. It would cut most of the United States out of the exciting and necessary process of making all states stake holders in the presidential candidate selection.

2. It would give BIG MONEY candidates all the advantage and big money now is already a huge problem.

3. It would make the year of a presidential election a news dead zone with nothing to report after the quick primary process ends. This would deprive Americans of a very important opportunity to be educated and to see democracy in action.

4. NOT having caucus return night in Des Moines, Iowa would deprive the world media of THE bigest US political event besides the New Hampshire primary returns from Dixville Notch which is where the first ballts are counted around midnight. "In a tradition that started in the 1960 election, all the eligible voters in Dixville Notch gather at midnight in the ballroom of The Balsams. The voters cast their ballots and the polls officially are closed one minute later. The result of the Dixville Notch vote in both the New Hampshire primary and the general election are traditionally broadcast around the country immediately afterwards." Wikipedia got it right this time!

Folks, these are the political theatre and magic which makes politics in a democracy so wonderful. What would we do without Jese jackson in a five piece suit kissing pigs in asome small rural town. How could we like without joe Lieberman turning down a pork chop ion a stick at the iowa fair (the fact that he is jewish may have caused this odd behavior but no one has EVER gotten the presidential nomination in the USA who did not eat pork in Iowa). What would we do during the doldrums of the summer before promaries without the theatre of the Ames, iowa GOP straw poll and all the magic, mystery, esxcitement, and hype that it creates?

Therefore, we are now working on organizing a mid term (2010) forum on caucuses and primaries for the next presidential race. We will be posting details here and sending a heads up in Face Book, Twitter, and to our mailing list.

Stay tuned! This blog is about so much more than the Iowa Presidential Caucuses.

Steffen Schmidt
Dr. Politics, Iowa Public Radio Talk@12 live on Wednesdays at noon USA central time.

Also subscribe to podcasts at Iowa Public radio and download them to iTunes.

2008 - The Dam Has Broken!

Iowa first followed by New Hampshire a week later.

Yeah, right!

That was then and this is now.

The dam has broken and the rush is on to move primaries earlier and earlier.

• SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Seeking to give Californians a voice in choosing the next U.S. presidential candidates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on Thursday a bill to move the presidential primary election in the nation's most populous state to February 2008.
  "Moving up the primary from June to February gives California the influence it deserves in choosing the next presidential candidates," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference to commemorate the bill's signing.

Good idea Arnold.

And, good idea New Jersey, Florida, Missouri, Michigan and Texas. In fact half of the states are talking about moving up.

Bad for the Iowa caucuses? Probably not. Some experts believe that the Iowa caucuses will be even more important becuase a big win in Iowa (and good showing or win in nevada, new Hampshire, and South Carolina) would be like a super booster rocket in the big states.

So, come on down to Iowa in January of 2008! We are ready for you.

Nevada - Caucus Envy?!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

You probably read this story.

• "The Nevada Democratic Party announced that it is hiring two Iowa Democratic veterans to run the Nevada 2008 presidential caucus. Jean Hessburg who was executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party in 2002 and 2004 elections will organize Nevada's Democratic caucus which will be held in early 2007. Jayson Sime who was Iowa's Democratic Party field and canvass director in 2004 will be the assistant to Hessburg. The Nevada Democratic presidential caucus will now be the No. 2 only five days after Iowa for the 2008 presidential marathon."

Iowa's caucuses have been so important precisely because they have been the first event in the American race for the White House. Since they became important in the 1970's, other states have been eying the first place in what can only be called "caucus envy" - Freud may have written about this but I'm not sure! It is a deep psychological sense of inadequacy at not being "as big" as the Iowa caucuses in giving presidential contenders visibility and the big "mo" - MOMENTUM!

Now comes late breaking word that New Jersey is also suffering from this condition. It goes more or less like this:

• TRENTON, N.J. --New Jersey lawmakers have approved a plan that would move the state near the front of the presidential primary lineup in a bid to give the Garden State more influence in selecting candidates. Proponents of the move say it's needed because presidential candidates often visit New Jersey to raise money but don't court votes because the state's primary has been scheduled well after races were decided. The state Senate voted 33-5 to move the state's presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February.

Here is another spin on this:

• "New Jersey will move from the back of the line almost all the way to the front. What had been the last presidential primary in the nation will now be held Feb. 5, 2008 - behind only the Iowa caucus (Jan. 14), Nevada caucus (Jan. 19), New Hampshire primary (Jan. 22) and South Carolina primary (Jan. 29). The Garden State joins what will be a new "Super Tuesday," as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, North Carolina and Utah also are planning to hold primaries on the first Tuesday in February."

Now pay close attention here because this is where Freud comes into the picture:

• "New Jersey lawmakers last year voted to hold the presidential primary in late February, but had to move it even earlier as other states kept rushing their primaries toward the front. The move recognizes the long-standing resentment [one could say sense of inadequacy and helplessness] among voters that New Jersey was little more than a bystander when it came to choosing presidential candidates."

In Iowa we understand that being first means Iowa is always looking over its shoulders because someone is coming fast from behind.

We also understand that the Iowa caucuses have been an opportunity for little known candidates with very little money to test their message and personal political skills and style. "Retail politics", going from voter to voter rather than from TV Media Market to TV Media Market, has been a very useful process in the winnowing of candidates. A huge ragional or national primary would probably eliminate the lesser known and poorly funded aspirants to the White House.

How long can this last? Not foreover but Iowa has had a good run and done a great service to US democracy.

Iowa Political Caucus Exhibit! Excellent!

New major Iowa State Historical Museum project announced for 2007:

Museum to be information headquarters, media center and issues forum for Iowa Caucuses

State Historical Society of Iowa
600 E. Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa
50319

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jeff Morgan, 515-281-3858December 21, 2006


DES MOINES The State Historical Museum today announced it is developing a new major project that will transform 9,000 square-feet of display space into an information headquarters, media center and issues forum for the Iowa Caucuses.

Caucus Iowa, scheduled to open in Fall 2007, will offer a first-hand look at Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses how they work, why they work, how they affect candidates and their campaigns, and how they differ from every other step to the White House.

The project will also serve as a caucus training headquarters for world-wide media and provide an issues forum where campaign organizations, presidential candidates and the public can host events, deliver speeches and hold other activities.

Iowa's traditional first-in-the-nation caucuses focus the eyes of the nation and world on the state every four years, said Anita Walker, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

Intensive media scrutiny showcases all aspects of Iowa life, promoting the state, its people and resources in a manner that is unrivaled by any other single event. This project will define and explain the caucus method from a historical sense and create specific environments to experience this unique political process firsthand. It will be a rare opportunity to demystify citizen-democracy at work and celebrate it as a viable and necessary step in our presidential process.

With its emphasis on technology and electronics, the project will tell the story of the Iowa caucuses their rise to national significance in the 1970s, coffee shop campaigning, living room politics and the impact severe winter weather, special interest groups and the media have on them. The project will also track the whereabouts of 2008 presidential candidates as they campaign throughout the state. Iowans play a unique role in the nations presidential election process, Walker said.

The Iowa Caucuses set the stage for the rest of the nation by winnowing the field of candidates for the White House. Historically, the caucuses offer only three tickets out of Iowa, meaning candidates have to finish in the top three to have any realistic chance of continuing their campaigns. We believe this project will help to secure Iowas first-in-the-nation status, promote Iowa to national and international audiences and, most importantly, showcase citizen-democracy to increase participation in the caucus process.

Museum staff is working with a Caucus Advisory Board co-chaired by Gordon Fischer and Steve Roberts, both of Des Moines. The advisory board also includes:

Eric Branstad, Republican Party of Iowa
Dennis Goldford, Drake University professor
J Fink, Oskaloosa teacher
James Flansburg, former political writer for The Des Moines Register
Jason Follett, SHSI Board Member
Millie Frese, Marshalltown teacher
Teri Goodmann, Dubuque democrat
Wayne Haskovec, Hudson teacher
Gary Overla, Perry teacher
Matthew Schaefer, Hoover Museum, West Branch
Steffen Schmidt, Iowa State University professor, co-author of book "Issues in Iowa Politics"
Peverill Squire, University of Iowa professor
Tim Walch, SHSI Board Member
Hugh Winebrenner, author of book on Iowa Caucuses

The State Historical Society of Iowa is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and is a trustee of Iowas historical legacy and an advocate for understanding Iowas past. It identifies, records, collects, preserves, manages and provides access to Iowas historical resources. Its dual mission of preservation and education serves Iowans of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates information, and encourages and supports historical preservation and education efforts of others throughout the state.

Visit www.iowahistory.org or call 515-281-5111 for more information.

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