IOWA CAUCUSES

Democrats
Polls show a very tight race, with Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama running neck and neck. Mrs. Clinton leads her opponents in most other early primary states, often by wide margins, and that makes a victory in Iowa crucial for both Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards. Mr. Obama has a strong ground organization in Iowa, while Mr. Edwards has campaigned extensively in the state, hoping to repeat history. He ran a come-from-behind campaign in 2004, when a strong showing in the Iowa caucuses propelled him to national prominence.

Recent Polling

Conducted between October 1, 2007 and October 3, 2007 by Des Moines Register with 399 likely Democratic caucus voters and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Details of the Nominating Process

Democrats
January 3, 2008
Caucus (Open)
57 delegates at stake

The process has four steps: the precinct caucuses, the county conventions, the district conventions and the state convention. At the precinct caucuses on Jan. 3, delegates are elected to the county conventions on March 15. Delegates to the county conventions select delegates to the district conventions on April 26 and to the state convention on June 14. Participants in the state convention June 14 select 16 pledged delegates to the national convention. An additional 12 unpledged delegates are also selected from party leaders. The delegates to the state convention elect Iowa’s at-large delegates to the national convention.

Winners of Previous Nominating Contests

Source:  Election 2008, The New York Times, November 11, 2007

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