An Outsider's Inside View of the Iowa Caucuses. Issue 4 (12th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andersen, David J.
• Is Part Of: PS, political science & politics. Volume 49:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 788
• Page End: 790
• Publication Date: 2016-10-12
• Subjects: Political science -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S1049096516001426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-0965

Abstract

Abstract : Every four years the state of Iowa leads off the presidential primary season by voting in its famed First in the Nation caucuses. And every four years academics, journalists, and citizens question whether Iowa is a suitable candidate to start the primary season. As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I joined this opposition view, and favored a different system—whether regional primaries, a rotating first state, or, well, anything else. Then, just three years ago I moved from New Jersey to Iowa, providing me an inside view of the state's role in the nominating process and forcing me to see the caucuses in a new light. What I have seen, and will discuss here, are my reasons for changing my mind.