New poll: Iowans 'had fun' in their caucuses

At last, the news we've all been waiting for. A new University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll just out has discovered that fully 86% of Iowans "had fun" during their recent caucuses.

Really. Isn't that wonderful?

According to a university news release, "Despite the chaos of a record turnout, long lines and crowded rooms, Iowans had fun at their caucuses on Jan. 3."

It's just so heartwarming to know that what the rest of us thought for so many months had something to do with choosing party nominees for president of the United States was, for a very large majority of the quarter-million Iowans who caucused, actually a whole lot of fun. Kind of like those summer fairs with the hog contests and that cow butter-carving that we heard so much about when politicians were working the sticky-handed crowds eating everything conceivable fried.

The random telephone poll of 306 Democratic and 223 Republican caucus-goers between Jan. 5-10 found, according to David Redlawsk, poll director: "Iowans didn't caucus just for the fun of it, but most seem to have discovered the fun factor in caucusing."

It was the first caucus for 46% of those surveyed, many of whom said they caucused to oppose one candidate rather than support one. Across parties, an overwhelming number (95%) said they attended because it was the "right thing to do," 89% came to support a candidate, 69% to support their party, 40% to support a particular issue, 27% to oppose a candidate and 19% because someone asked them to go.

While 86% reported having fun, only 26% listed fun as their reason for going.

Oh, and despite their more complex, often chaotic voting procedures, more Democrats (88%) reported "having fun" than Republicans (83%). Come to think of it, the Iowa caucuses, which seem like only a year ago, were just a whole lot of fun too for the rest of us to read about. And without the ice and snow.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[stewart]

Oh? iowans had fun did they now 'ye say? Huh? And the rest of us? We are left to clean up the mess and take the alka seltzers?
Because of their diso;ute decisions that left the really more qualified candidate in the name of Joe Biden without one percentage point over the agent for change who cannot define exactly what that change is or when it will be i donr nor paid for by whom? And the wife of a foremr president who became a senator and now assumes the mantle because she was there? Fun is it as other states are in revolt that IA and NH just want to have fun?

[max]

OK. Were the caucuses supposed to be dreadful?

[stewart]

the weather was dreadful from all reports but the results certainly were dreadful. not just that real EXPERIENCE (BIDEN-DODD) didnt amount to squat mind you? but look what has happened? other states that are not satisifed with the abomination of the cuacuses, or the primary line up, are stricken from having delegates count! Iowa does as does new Hampshire NOT represent the cross cut of America! and these staes are in revolt over it.
there is a convention coming some day and there will be a day of reckoning.
fun? he who laughs last ?well....

[SimpleRep]

Mr. Malcolm,

I hate to alarm you, but I think Iowa represents what the majority of Americans are like. Many do not fully understand, nor care to understand, the issues discussed or debated during the presidential campaign. For the most part, it's an election year and the fact that a "woman", an "African-American", a "Mormon" and a "fundamentalist Christian" are the frontrunners, probably makes more sense than any of the candidate's views regarding the economy, foreign policy and their individual solutions to end the wa in Iraq.

If JFK Jr. were alive today, many would have voted for him based on his looks and name alone, regardless of his personal political agenda and beliefs. Iowa is just the heart of how the average American views the election year.

Don't look down at them, people really don't care "who" is in office, so long as they have jobs and food on the table.

We all aren't political analysts. Life is too short for that. Sad but true!

(Good points. If everyone was a political analyst, who would need a blog? Iowans are great and Iowa's a great place except for the mosquitoes and my pickup breaking down every time I tried to drive across it. Be well and thanks for reading.)

[brad]

No one else has to follow the decisions Iowans make, we can all make our own decisions. If voters in other states allow themselves to be influenced by states like Iowa and New Hampshire- isnt that their problem, not Iowas.