Democratic recommendation likely would maintain Iowa's first-in-nation caucuses

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

Iowa Democratic leaders expect the state's precinct caucuses will remain first-in-the-nation in 2012 and beyond following the final meeting Wednesday of a Democratic National Committee panel recommending changes to the delegate selection process.

“Iowans should continue to be cautiously optimistic about our first-in-the-nation status,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said. “While the Democratic National Committee evaluates shifting the schedule of primaries and caucuses to later in the year, I expect Iowa will remain the first caucus.”

The Change Commission recommended that Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Caroline have their caucuses and primaries beginning Feb. 1 and other states start their delegate selection processes no earlier than March 1. Although it did not recommend the order of contests in those four states, Iowa's representative on the Change Commission, Attorney General Tom Miller, doesn't see any move to dislodge Iowa's lead-off caucuses.

“I think it's assumed and believed by everyone that Iowa would continue go first,” Miller said after the commission's conference call meeting. “I don't think that would be challenged by the other three.”

He also expects the party's Rules and Bylaws Committee, which next meets in February, to along with the recommendations. The committee's decision will go to the DNC over the summer. State party leaders expect a decision in the fall of 2010, prior to mid-term elections.

Even then, the line-up won't be set, one party official said. Just as Michigan and Florida ignored the DNC schedule in 2008, some states may choose to jump ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire.

The Change Commission is recommending the DNC offer incentives for states to follow the party calendar by offering, for example, preferred seating and hotel accommodations at national conventions.

Iowa will have a strong ally in President Barack Obama, Miller said.

“Iowa is very near and dear to Barack's heart,” said Miller, who backed Obama's caucus campaign in Iowa. “He spent so much time here and worked so hard here and had such great result from Iowans. He hasn't forgotten that and he never will.”

Even if the recommendations only protect Iowa's first-in-the nation status in 2012 when no contest for the Democratic presidential nomination is expected, Miller believes Iowa will be in a stronger position to go first in 2016.

“We will have once again gone first in 2012, it will again be part of the tradition,” he said.

The Change Commission recommendations also call for states to work together on regional primaries and to avoid “Super Tuesday” situation where more than 20 states had their primaries on the same day.

The recommendations also call for replacing super delegates with national pledged party leaders. They would have to pledge their backing to the presidential hopefuls based on their state's primary or caucus results. If they choose not to, they can attend the national convention as non-voting members.