Caucuses planned for Saturday

Off-year precinct caucuses tend to be low-key compared to presidential-year caucuses, but area party leaders see a chance of better-than-average turnout Saturday.

“Oh, it'll be a small turnout, but we don't know what small turnout means,” explained Dennis Roseman, chairman of the Johnson County Democrats. “We won't see the numbers we had in 2008, but the question is whether it will be more than the last off-year caucuses in 2006.”

Across the political aisle, Linn County Republican Chairman Tim Palmer expects a “more robust” turnout than at the typical off-year “snoozer caucus.”

“We're expecting more than in the past not just because people are energized, but because they are concerned” about state and federal issues, Palmer said. “They want to get involved.”

Some of the involvement likely will come from so-called Tea Party activists who populated last summer's town hall meetings to complain about federal health care reform and spending measures.

Conventional wisdom suggests most of those folks would attend Republican caucuses. However, Tea Party event organizer Tim Pugh of Cedar Rapids expects some to find their way to Democratic caucuses.

“These are people who want to see changes in both parties,” he said, adding that about 40 people have come to Tea Party caucus training sessions for those interested in attending caucuses.

They're motivated by spending and taxes, health care and the war, Pugh said.

“We're encouraging them to offer platform resolutions,” he said.

Party leaders will be watching to see whether Saturday afternoon caucuses draw larger crowds than the traditional weeknight events.

“More folks have the weekend off and will be able to attend. At least, that's the hopes,” said Diane Hoffmann of Mount Vernon, Linn County Democratic chairwoman.

Roseman has had several complaints about scheduling caucuses on the Jewish Sabbath.

“There's no good time to schedule a meeting, it seems,” he said.

Having caucuses on a Saturday may boost attendance, Johnson County Republican Chairman Bob Anderson said. He senses an enthusiasm to participate because of a variety of issues as well as Iowa's gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.