Democratic Urban Precinct Caucus

Voters in Iowa gathered in a high school auditorium to select

delegates in this precinct caucus. The cameras recorded the entire

event from the filing in, to the instructions to the participants, to

the actual bargaining and occasional disagreements within the

groups. Supporters for each of the candidates met in separate parts

of the auditorium, counted their supporters, and elected some of

their members as delegates.

In this caucus, the Gephardt supporters were too few and thus were

“nonviable.” The Simon and Jackson groups tried to woo them, but

the group, after some discussion and bargaining, joined with the

Babbitt supporters and received a delegate in exchange. This program

allows one to see grassroots democracy in action as well as what a

caucus really is. close