Washington State, which is very staunchly Democratic (having voted Democratic presidential candidates for at least 20 years I think) has a caucus. Many analysts consider it the most democratic process, because people show up and talk to each other about who would make the best candidate, and yet, gets to 'vote' however they please, and without harassment. When you're there, you also get a feel for what other people think, but you are still allowed to make your own decision. It is more social and less private, but after all, it is not the final say. Basically you are meeting with members of your own party (Democrat or Republican) to decide together who you think she get X number of delegates. I actually like it because it is ideally how a society should work-- interactive but individual too. Like a jury in some ways.

If it were not for a caucus, your candidate may have still won, but by a thinner margin.

Oh I know, but I don't care. I think the idea of socializing is great but I also think it's easier to influence a vote in that moment. People really should spend more time researching on their own. Also, because it's public, I think it may be harder to get a good judge of how people would really vote. Peer pressure becomes an issue. And tho Obama did well because of it, I'm not sure it's a good way. But it sounds like a lot of fun. Do they allow martinis?

__________________
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"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."

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-from the goddess that is Anaïs Nin

i think he does so well in caucus states because his following tends to be more, ah firebrandish than the clinton supporters. a big part of caucusing, at least from what i observed until my district wound up doing a simple vote instead at the last minute, is convincing the undecided voters as well as voters for the other candidate that yours is better, instead of simply voting.

they had only expected under 100 people in each district in my city to show up; instead over a thousand came to each district so they made an emergency decision to switch over to casting votes. it was something of a clusterfuck, but obama won my district with over 1,000 votes. hillary got 200.

Well, people who take time and trouble to show up to a caucus will more than likely vote Democrat. Only registered Democrats are allowed in a Democratic caucus, so you don't have to worry that they will vote McCain later. I mean there is a chance, but these are mostly diehard Dems that attend these things. So it's OK to persuade, or be persuaded, in the caucus process, IMO.

I am a nerd but I was going to go because I think it''s somewhat fun/interesting to participate. I love America We are lucky to be here in many ways, and I am grateful.

I could be stuck in Bangladesh, and I'm not talking about as a tourist.

Yeah, the morons in America are worth complaining about, but at the end of the day, the people who first wrote up the Constitution of the US were somewhat brilliant. Which is why we should stand up and not allow our civil liberties etc be eroded. But I'm digressing.....

I just hope my fellow Americans don't disappoint me by voting McCain...... a step up from Bush, but seriously, we need vision.

Ya hafta wonder about the people who are all for Romney and Huckabee.... I mean, are they from another planet? Have they been kidnapped by thetans?

i would agree with this summation. however, despite my support for hillary up until a few weeks ago, most of the people i knew were heavily leaning toward obama, without much persuasion.