• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Hart claims he invented Iowa Caucuses

Hart claims he invented Iowa Caucuses

January 25, 2003 By admin

Gary Hart, a leading contender for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination until allegations of an affair forced him out of the race, was back in Iowa this week as he mulls running again. During a visit with reporters, Hart claimed credit for “inventing” the Iowa Caucuses as a major event in the presidential selection process. Hart says in 1972 when he was working on South Dakota Senator George McGovern’s campaign, they didn’t think they could do well in New Hampshire’s opening primary against Maine Senator Edmund Muskie, so they decided to campaign in Iowa. Hart says if that’s indeed the genesis of the predominance of the Caucuses, he’s going to claim credit for bringing hundreds of millions of dollars of Caucus-related economic activity to the state.In 1968, the national Democratic Party started the process of changing its nomination rules to try to get rid of the perception that presidential nominees were chosen by leaders rather than voters. Iowa Governor Harold Hughes chaired the party’s reform committee, and helped position Iowa’s Caucuses at the head of the pack. And Hart is correct in saying McGovern’s decision to challenge perceived front-runner Muskie here, before New Hampshire, provided McGovern a significant boost toward gaining the party’s 1972 presidential nomination. Nearly 36 percent of the delegates elected by the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucuses in 1972 were uncommitted, but Muskie got 35.5 percent and McGovern a surprising 22.6 percent.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Democratic Party, Iowa Caucuses

Featured Stories

Iowa State Patrol tactical team leader killed in Grundy Center stand-off

Finalists chosen for the state’s top burger

Paintings by Clinton woman gain a following in Europe

Iowa deadline for individual income taxpayers moved to June 1

Dialing rules changing for two area codes in Iowa

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State adds Minnesota transfer

Cedar Rapids preparing for big return of sports events

Iowa Games returning with full slate of sports

Iowa’s Garza sweeps national awards

Iowa’s Garza claims three national awards

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC