Post Pre-Primary Caucus Notes
Well my brief campaign didn’t turn out so well (close, but no cigar), but I’m fine with that. I’m not much of a risk taker so even attempting it was a victory for me.
The caucus also brought quite a few surprises though. I’m too tired to go into detail now, but these were the two things that really shocked me:
- Of the Obama group, I was probably the only participant (besides the leader) under 50.
- The John Edwards group was around twice the size of the Obama group.
As for the other caucuses:
- Obama won.
- Huckabee won.
- Biden and Dodd have dropped out.
Now I’m calling it a night.
Update: Dodd’s withdrawal email after the jump.
Dear David,
I count the past year of campaigning for the presidency as one of the most rewarding in a career of public service.
Unfortunately, I am withdrawing from that campaign tonight.
But there is no reason to hang our heads this evening — only the opportunity to look towards a continuation of the work we started last January: ending the Iraq War, restoring the Constitution, and putting a Democrat in the White House.
I know a lot of you came to this email list through a shared desire to return our nation to one that respects the rule of law, and I want to make one thing clear to all of you:
The fight to restore the Constitution and stop retroactive immunity does not end with my Presidential campaign. FISA will come back in a few weeks and my pledge to filibuster ANY bill that includes retroactive immunity remains operative.You’ve been an invaluable ally in the battle, and I’ll need you to stick by my side despite tonight’s caucus results.
So, one more time, thank you for all of your efforts throughout the course of this entire Presidential campaign.
We made a real difference in shaping the debate, and we’ll continue to do so in the coming days, weeks and years.
I’ll never forget you, and what we’ve fought for, together, over the past year.
Chris Dodd
January 4th, 2008 at 6:35 am
How many people were there? How many in the Obama crowd?
Your comment that there were only 2 under 50 in Obama’s crowd surprises me. All the MSM says is that he’s most effective in the younger crowd.
What about the Clinton crowd?
Also curious about Thompson’s crowd. I missed him the other night on Law&Order.
Another curiosity, I thought that with Caucuses, the largest crowd won. Yet you said Obama won, but Edwards had the largest crowd? Was that just at your precinct?
P.S. Unless you missed it, I announced yesterday. More news to come. Not today, I have to render to Caesar today. Maybe over the weekend, if this global warming continues and I can’t get outside.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
It was a different type of caucus. Ohio has a primary election to choose the candidate, the caucus just decides each candidates delegates to the Democratic National Convention should the candidate have enough support in the primary to get delegates. This caucus was also just for Democrats. Republicans have their own process that I don’t know much about.
As for the crowds, I was only able to see the Edwards and Obama group. Everyone was together in an auditorium for the opening and then as their candidate was called people were escorted to the room that the candidate’s caucus was in. Obama was called second so I was only able to see the Edwards group. I do know that Hillary’s caucus was held in the auditorium, so I assume she had the largest crowd (as it was the largest room).
As for the age disparity, it wasn’t limited to Obama. There was only a few people under 30 there in all, and of them I was probably the youngest participant.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Most of the studies I’ve seen says that the under 30 crowd (especially under 25 crowd) simply doesn’t vote. Not sure I understand why. I voted the year I turned 19, a non-presidential year, but my first chance.
My son turns 18 in February and says he won’t vote. Hopefully he’ll change his mind before November.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Good for you, David. What a great experience to rack up.
January 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
It was more of a dry run than anything else. Now that I know the process, I might seriously consider doing it again in the future.
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 am
Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I’m glad to join your conmunity,
and wish to assit as far as possible.