MT GOP Adopts Presidential Caucus

For the first time in memory, Montana will play a role in the Presidential Primary process.  Montana Republicans will hold a Presidential Caucus on February 5th, 2008.

We could go on and on about the merits of this new caucus, but Missoula County Republican Central Committee Chairman Will Deschamps has already done that for us in the following op-ed:

Presidential Caucus A Better Way Forward

By Will Deschamps

As a lifelong Republican, I’m excited about the Montana Republican Party’s proposed Presidential Caucus for February of 2008.  The reason is simple:  it strengthens Montana’s voice on the national landscape without changing or eliminating any rights or privileges Montana voters already have.

Don’t get me wrong, I, along with most Republicans, would like to see the state’s Presidential Primary moved forward to February, as Secretary of State Brad Johnson proposed earlier this year, so every Montanan can vote at a time that makes us relevant to the process.  Unfortunately, that option was taken off the table by Democrats in the State Senate who killed the proposal, but I was glad to see the Montana Republican Party bring forward a new idea to help Montana play a role.

Now, some uninformed critics of this proposal have attacked it as a bad idea.  They say Montana Republicans are taking unprecedented action that takes away the rights of the average voter.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, 29 states, including Wyoming and South Dakota use a closed Presidential Primary or Caucus system to help determine who their state supports for the Presidency.  Certainly we haven’t seen democracy crumble in these adjacent states.  Certainly if a majority of states use a similar system, we’re hardly breaking new ground.

The reality that critics don’t want to admit is that under the MT GOP’s proposed caucus, Montana voters still cast a vote for the President during the Primary Election in June, and that vote has the same weight that it did in 2004 and in 2000.  That process remains exactly the same under the Republican Party’s proposal.  Montanans still cast a vote.

The sad reality is that Montana’s primary vote has never mattered all that much to Presidential Campaigns.  As the second-to-last state to vote, the race for President has long been over when Montanans cast a ballot.  Critics of change will tell you that we’re ignored because we’re a small state with only three electoral votes, but the critics and their simple-minded rhetoric are wrong, because nominating a President is unlike any other political process in our country.  Political scientists who take an honest look at the Presidential nominating process will tell you that Montana, with our 25 delegate votes, has the same value to a Presidential Candidate as eight Congressional Districts in California.

It’s not Montana’s size that’s the issue, it’s when we cast our vote.

Some folks may be willing to sit back and let this election cycle pass by, waiting on a hope and prayer that Democrats join Republicans in changing Montana law to allow for an early Presidential Primary in 2012.  I, for one, am not willing to give up for the 2008 election if we, as Montanans, have a chance to matter when it comes to nominating the President.

That’s why I’m so excited about the Republican Party’s Presidential Caucus.  It gives us that chance to matter.

Any time someone proposes a change to the status quo, they’re going to be attacked with distorted arguments and half truths from those people who fear change.  But when we step back and take a look at the facts, it just makes good sense to support an early Presidential Caucus.  Presidential Campaigns will take a hard look at Montana because we will matter.  Our smaller size becomes an advantage because we will be weighing in earlier.  In Big Sky Country, campaigns actually have less territory to cover, and the cost of campaigning is much lower than slugging it out in state’s like California or Florida, where the candidate has to cover a lot more territory at a much higher cost for the same benefit.

As this proposal moves forward, and if it’s adopted, Montanans should keep an open mind.  Ask yourself, do you want the same old irrelevant election, or do you want to hear from candidates and see them traveling our state, or do you want to watch them on the news?  Don’t let the critics and naysayers scare you.  Take a look at what’s really happening and decide for yourself.  Ask yourself if it is better that we sit back and be ignored as always, or if it is time to try something new that gives Montana a real voice.

Comments

[Donna Stotts]

Ron Paul would beat Hillery hands down.My husband and I are ready to vote in Ron Paul.He is so great I would be willing to pay him to be President every month. One thing we know Ron Paul is not for sale.His record stands spotless.

The Democrats never did anything to stop the war,after a land slide.Nancy Pelosi sold the Dems out big time,and so goes the Dems.Hillery is a war bird,do nothing.

Ron Paul is the only answer to what the American people asked for and are still askng for,no more war,and our Constitutional rights restored.Ron Paul will win the Democrats votes easy.If there's a war bird on the Republican ticket the Dems will lean Hillery reluctantly.
This primary,this election has great possibilities if one can see it.The American people a fed-up.I should know.
Cheering for Ron Paul in Marion,Montana.
Let's stand together and win.
"Ron Paul "2008"

[Gary H. Thompson]

From the way I understand that this caucus works is that vote in February will nominate the republican candidate for president from Montana. If this is so, does our vote in June mean anything? For example, if the caucus picks Romney and the voters in June pick McCain or Huckabee who is going to get the delegates at the national convention? Thank You

[Gay H. Thompson]

Now that Romney has pulled out of the election what's going to happen to our votes? My suggestion is to have another caucus and let all the republicans vote as should have happened the first time. I only hope this time the big-wigs use their brains and trust that us common folks really do know what we want. If not then we should nominate Huckabee and not McCain. Its hard to tell who is more liberal - McCain or the democrats

[Stacey Hanrahan]

I'm really bothered by the fact that the MT GOP was so shortsighted that it disenfranchised the votes of a majority of Montana Republicans. At least when the primary was in June, no votes were ever disenfranchised.

[Stacey Hanrahan]

It should be said that some of those "uninformed critics" you mention are also lifelong Republicans just like yourself Mr. Deschamps. Of course you'd be excited to participate in the state's first caucus. It was open only to those who hold a seat of power in the GOP. Us mere plebes were completely shut out.