Precinct Boss Lady

When I signed up on the Joe Biden For President website back in the summer I was feeling very patriotic and encouraged about our democratic process. I even checked the boxes that said I would be willing to help on election day.

The Biden team contacted me and asked if I would be willing to work as a precinct chair for my local caucus. Sure! Why not? They passed on my info to the NV Democratic Party and then I waited to hear from them.

Time went by and then Iowa had their caucuses. Boy was that depressing. Biden got 1% of the vote and 0 delegates. He promptly removed himself from the race and I was left feeling like I'd lost a limb. Biden was my guy! He (aside from McCain) is the only one with enough experience to properly handle foreign relations. He has been saying all along, we have to pay attention to Pakistan. And then as if to prove him right their government destabilizes and they assassinate the revolutionary voice, Benazir Bhutto. Plus, I really appreciate how much of a straight shooter Biden is, and I don't mind his occasional gaffs because I know that means he is speaking honestly and off the cuff, not in sound bites and carefully calculated phrases.

The NV Dems didn't call for the longest time and after Biden withdrew I was seriously considering not participating in the caucus anyway. Then they finally called and said they still really need my help in my local precinct. I signed up for a 3 hour training on how to run the caucus.

Then Logy had his episode and I didn't go. I felt guilty so I sent an e-mail to the Dems and said if they still wanted me I was willing to do it. I didn't hear from them until yesterday (Saturday) afternoon! Talk about last minute. The caucus is next Saturday. I start my new job tomorrow so I don't have time to take a 3 hour training class, but they said I am the only person willing to do this in my precinct so they really need me. I relented and drove down to HQ to pick up my packet of materials. They told me to read through everything very carefully and then call for training over the phone.

I figured if they can train me over the phone then how difficult can the whole thing be, anyway? Welp, as I read through the booklet, I felt the full gravitas.

I thought that I would just be some helper volunteer. Nope, I am running the show. I am the person in charge of the whole caucus process in my precinct. Basically, the caucus is a simple meeting of all the Dems in this area. We will meet and break into groups according to which candidate we support. Then based on the number of people in support of each candidate, their viability is determined and there may be realignment. Finally we assign delegates to the candidates based on the number of caucus participants supporting them, and then we are done. But there is a whoooole bunch of rules, regulations, math, and formal procedures to make sure it is conducted fairly and with accuracy.

Let's just hope that no one minds that I run the thing by burying my nose in the instruction book and going step by step.

So stay tuned for a recap after next Saturday's shindig. I think I will have Joe come with me (he is an independant and can't participate unless he reregisters as a Dem) and take photos and document the thing so I can put the details up on my blog. I did check the rule book, and technically the caucus is a public event and observers are allowed; they just can't participate or try to influence the proceedings.