The caucus from an Iowa Mom's POV

When we hit the street, there were a few Moms who knew their political stuff (at least a little). But many were pretty sketchy when it came to defining a caucus and what it means to America.

For those in need of a little Caucus 101, our friends at Salon.com define a caucus as "a party meeting at the precinct level at which citizens express their candidate preferences and pick delegates."

What's really happening in Iowa today? We called Iowa Mom of three girls and Mom•Logic friend Mary Beth Woodhouse for her Mom-perspective.

Mom•Logic: So, what's happening at the caucus? MBW: In the Republican caucus, we all go and sit in chairs and try to sway each other onto our side. You tell people who are sitting by you who you are voting for and why. I persuaded my neighbor to vote my way, one person at a caucus can make a difference. Then, everyone is given a hot pink piece of paper and you hand-write your vote on that paper, it's blank. Then, they all go in a bucket and get counted. We started at 7 p.m., and by 7:15 in our precinct the votes were all counted and reported. When you go to a Democratic caucus, which I've also done, everybody in the room doesn't vote on paper. You stand up and go to whatever corner of the room is designated for your campaign. Once everybody is in their groups, if any one group does not have 15% of people attending, that group is considered not viable, so those people will get recruited to other groups, which is when the discussion really begins... In my precinct, Huckabee won by almost two-to-one. He had 40. Ron Paul, who came in second, had 22. John McCain had 21, 13 for Mitt Romney, which I thought was very telling, and 11 for Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani only had 6. Mom•Logic: What's the buzz there today in Iowa? MBW: The caucus sites are ramping up for what may be a record turnout of caucus goers in Iowa. People here have been bombarded with TV ads, phone calls, mail, etc. from the candidates and the organizations that support them, or don’t, as the case may be. Residents here are mixed in their response to all this attention. Many are just waiting for it to be finished because

they are sick of it all. Many others can’t wait for their first time to attend a caucus. As usual here in Iowa, the older generations (those over 50) will be well represented at the caucuses, while I have heard through the media and in conversation with friends and co-workers that young people are expected in larger numbers than usual. From my experience as a life-long Iowan who has always been somewhat interested in politics, this is the most attention the residents here have given to the candidates and their messages in a very long time. I also expect a larger than normal turnout.

Mom•Logic: Are Moms getting involved?
MBW: Not so much. My co-workers who will be attending their precinct caucuses tonite tend to be male. Of course, I am a mom and grandmother, and I will be attending. For many of the younger moms, it seems to be a time issue. Attending a caucus is not the same as going in and voting and leaving, it takes a little more time and many of them are not interested in giving up that time, getting a sitter, dealing with their kids carpools for activities, or whatever.

What does the Iowa caucus mean to you?
MBW: I am so grateful to be part of the process at this grassroots level. I like it that we don’t just go in and vote and leave. There is actually an interaction among the attendees with an opportunity to hear your friends’ and neighbors’ thoughts and ideas. People actually get to the caucus still undecided and listen to ‘ordinary’ people give their views, and then they make their decisions based on some of what they hear. There is no other opportunity like it. An individual can actually make a difference.

ML: What's the big scoop of the day?
MBW: It seems to me that the big scoop will be the unexpected, whatever that may be. Nothing about this night is predictable, and I, for one, will be glued to my TV awaiting the results. It is going to be a very long night here in Iowa!