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State Dems to hold presidential caucuses in '08

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Sunday, Feb 11, 2007 - 12:09:11 am CST

In a bid to have some voice in the choice of their presidential nominee, Nebraska Democrats decided Saturday to hold presidential caucuses in the state next February.

The decision by the party’s state central committee to choose Feb. 9 as their caucus date represented a gamble that the Democratic presidential contest still will be undecided at the time.

The 2008 race begins with kickoff caucuses in Iowa and Nevada and presidential primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

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A number of big states, including California, Florida, Illinois and New Jersey, are considering quickly jumping into the fray on Feb. 5.

“The decision for us was do we want to go on Feb. 5 and run the risk of being lost in a mix of big states or choose Feb. 9 with the risk that it’s all over by then,” Democratic National Committeeman Vince Powers of Lincoln said.

Feb. 9 appeared to be the better risk, he said.

Otherwise, Nebraska Democrats -- as well as Republicans -- essentially will have no voice at all in the choice of their presidential nominees because the state’s primary election does not occur until May long after the battle is over.

Under the new caucus system, Nebraska Democrats would meet and vote their presidential preferences while they choose delegates to their county conventions.

Delegates to the national convention in Denver would be chosen later at the party’s state convention.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Who Cares? wrote on February 11, 2007 12:27 pm:
" about the Democrat party in Nebraska? "
Silversmith wrote on February 11, 2007 2:21 pm:
" In response to "Who Cares?": anyone with a brain, who's NOT a neo-fascist, reich-wing lemming, that's who. As you can probably tell, I don't have ANY love for the current Republican (sic) party, but I do know currently the 2008 Rep. primary is scheduled for my birthday, May 13th - because it's important to know what BOTH major parties are doing, if you are a TRULY responsible citizen. As for this idea, while it's not bad, I think BOTH major political parties just need to get it through their heads that the primaries NEED to be rotating, with 10-20 states being in the first four week period, and with no more than half the national presidential primary votes determined by the end of that first four week period. If any other political parties pop up, they need to follow the same format, to insure equality and integrity of choice as well. Each national election, the rotation would change, under a set system, defined by how many primary votes each state holds. Hell, Iowa and New Hampshire could even be grandfathered in under such a rotational system, continuing their historical status as "first in the nation" states. But if it's left up to the way it is now, eventually, we'll have elections on Nov. 2, and the states will begin caucusing and holding primaries for the NEXT election by that same Christmas! But the current game of one-upsmanship that both party's state organizations are playing is childish and ridiculous. This is a step in the right direction - and I hope that the Nebraska Republican(sic) Party does something similar for their members - even though, as I said before, I'm not a big fan of the Idiot Lemming Party that is the NRP right now. "
Red Says wrote on February 11, 2007 3:32 pm:
" Who cares about the Republic party in Nebraska? "
betsy wrote on February 11, 2007 4:03 pm:
" As if Nebraska carries any weight with the process. It ain't new york or california. Come on folks, Nebraska is just a wannabee. "

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