Some of the most influential decisions of this presidential race are about to be made in a high school auditorium. Or a cafeteria. Or a church. Welcome Back to the Iowa Caucuses. When tens of thousands of people in towns across the Hawkeye state spend an evening meeting and arguing over who they want to run for president.
The caucuses occupy a hallowed place in political history, even though they are not known for their predictive power. In recent history only Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush made it to the White House after getting a headstart from Iowans. Others, like Bob Dole and Tom Harkin, swept the caucuses and then slammed into the granite cliffs of New Hampshire. But lots of people defend Iowa's right to caucus, the place where the grass really meets its roots.
Peverill Squire, Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa in Iowa City
Richard Meyers,
former Mayor of Coralville, Iowa, and former State legislator (1994-2003), currently a truck stop operator and Harley Davidson shop owner
Joe Klein, Time magazine political columnist.
Joe Klein thinks this process is just ridiculous for three reasons. listen
Betsy, a caller and a Dean supporter, has been calling Iowans in an effort to get them to vote for Dean. listen
