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Nevada, now early in '08 calendar, needs Caucus 101

Political parties and campaigns are racing to train voters, holding mock caucuses or 'mockuses.' Glitches are common in these sessions since trainers themselves are newbies to the caucus system.

from the December 14, 2007 edition

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"I would never have known, and that to me is scary," says Crystal Solis, sitting on one of the sofas. She didn't believe caucus organizers would reach people in Las Vegas without putting a message up in lights. "I work with [lots] of people every day. But nobody knows this. Where is your billboard?"

The political parties don't have a ton of money for advertising. The Republicans have a caucus budget of $500,000, most of which will be spent in the week before the Nevada contests. The Democrats have spent a quarter of their $2 million caucus budget on fliers and ads.

But a lot of work has gone into public training sessions. The Nevada Democratic Party has run more than 500 mock caucuses; the GOP has hosted hundreds more. Campaigns have also included caucus 101 lessons in their outreach efforts and grooming of precinct captains.

At these meetings residents also learn that they will be assigned a caucus location based on where they live. It could be a school, a church, or, this being Vegas, a casino on the Strip.

"I wouldn't have taken this job if it wasn't a challenge to overcome, and the challenge we have is making sure everyone understands the caucus," says Jayson Sime, Nevada Democratic caucus director and former field director for the 2004 Iowa Democratic caucus.

The candy caucus drew about 100 people, led by Kenya Pierce. She's one of 10 regional caucus organizers working under Mr. Sime – all of whom are newbies to the caucus system.

With mockusgoers huddled into groups, Ms. Pierce deftly explains the concept of viability. Those supporters of less popular candies – Milk Duds, Heath Bars, Now and Laters – have to join a group that has earned at least one delegate.

Then it's time to apportion the 15 delegates, requiring a few calculations. Pierce winds up with eight delegates for Snickers, three for Sugar Daddy, and six for "red vines" or licorice – for a total of 17. Few people notice the error, and the meeting moves on.

Democratic organizers say a mistaken number would be spat out by the vote tallying system, and a phone hot line will be available to work out last-minute glitches.

In attendance, too, are several temporary precinct chairs, the volunteers who will be running the show at each precinct. So far, both parties have filled 80 percent of the chairs for caucus day in January. Some of the remainder won't be filled until the 19th, says Sime, noting the same things happens in Iowa.

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