Iowa Caucus Was Too Early

Written by - The Gazette Editorial Board
http://thegazette.com/2012/01/04/iowa-caucuses-valuable-but-too-early/

Iowans might have been under too much pressure to vote. Did the results from the caucus really tell us anything? Half of Iowans were still undecided as to who they wanted to rally their support behind in the days before the actual caucus. The point of the caucus is to winnow the field, and this could have been done more effectively had voters been given more time to get to know the candidates. The timing of the caucus was a period when voters were more concerned with the holidays instead of politics. They were too distracted and had to deal with sorting through ad campaign attacks while trying to find out who really catered to their needs and shared the same values and goals that they did. The results of the caucus might have been different if Iowans weren't bombarded with stepped up political schedule manipulating. It serves as a warning to voters of future caucuses and primaries to really know the candidates and what they stand for before becoming overwhelmed. Politicians can really be up and in your face. If not given a good amount of time to think things through, almost anyone can be won over, just so that they don't have to be bothered with decision making anymore. It brings voters back to the central question - were the Iowa caucuses really that meaningful?