Parties work to spread word

With Nevada's 2008 presidential caucuses only two months away, it appears that Democratic Party officials are in no danger of living the maxim of philosopher George Santayana: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Not when it comes to running a caucus, anyway.

"Oh, we remember what happened four years ago," said Peggy Maze Johnson, executive director of the Clark County Democrats. "How can we forget? Nobody who was there ever will."

During the 2004 event, more than 6,000 voters gathered at Chaparral High School, drawn by two days of appearances by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. A worried fire marshal kicked them out of the overcrowded school.

They reconvened on the football field to tackle their party's platform and choose delegates. The rushed printing of extra ballots brought questions about electoral integrity. Tempers flared.

"It was all pretty dramatic," Johnson said. "We're not going to be unprepared this time."

With the state's early date on the presidential nominating calendar focusing national attention on Nevada, the state's Democratic and Republican parties are doing all they can to prepare for any eventuality that arises around the time of the Jan. 19 caucuses.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

The truth is, having too many participants at the caucuses is the least of organizers' worries. Had Kerry not shown up unexpectedly in 2004, Johnson said, Clark County Democrats probably would have had the kind of turnout they had in 2000, when only 1,200 people participated.

A higher national profile for the Nevada caucuses, officials say, is no guarantee of greater participation.

AARP recently abandoned plans to survey Nevada voters on their support for the presidential candidates because too few Nevadans considered themselves likely caucus-goers. During a tour of more than 40 Nevada communities, the organization for people age 50 and over "found that many citizens of the state didn't know that early caucuses for both major parties would take place in January," AARP spokeswoman Deborah Moore said in a statement.

Democrats have lowered early estimates of 100,000 participants statewide to 40,000. Republicans, who are for the first time referring to their selection of delegates as caucuses, aren't offering any predictions.

So concerned are both political parties about apathy being the order of the day that party and campaign officials are reaching out to voters through seemingly every medium possible: regular mail, e-mail, telephone, radio, TV, newspapers and the Internet.

Then there's Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen's Democratic Party-sponsored soccer team to promote the event. Los Democratas' jerseys bear the date of the caucuses.

"Players on the other team and those who watch ask about the caucuses," Kihuen said. "We've already registered 100 voters and explained to many people how the caucuses work."

MOCK CAUCUSES

Peggy Micco Konig and 30 other Republicans showed up at the state party's headquarters on West Sahara recently at a gathering designed to demystify the caucus process.

Substituting television shows for presidential candidates, Konig and other potential delegates gave speeches in support of their favorite programs.

Konig, a real estate agent, pushed for "Northern Exposure" because it could be watched by everyone in the family. It failed to draw any votes.

CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" proved more popular, winning delegates.

"Lou Dobbs is a truth seeker," remarked one attendee.

"I'd say we've already done hundreds of trainings of people throughout the state," said Zac Moyle, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party.

It was candy vying for the allegiance of more than 60 Democrats gathered in August at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Center in Summerlin.

Supporters of Starburst, Reese's Pieces, Hershey's chocolate and Snickers each got one delegate. But Mr. Goodbar didn't meet "viability requirements" and supporters of the candy bar had to throw their support behind other high-calorie snacks.

Officials with both parties have held such "mock caucuses" across the state, at schools, union halls, churches and community centers.

"If there isn't broad participation, Nevada won't be looked to in the future," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said during the August event.

CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS

The practice runs haven't entirely eliminated voter confusion and concerns about the caucuses.

At the August mock Democratic caucus, retirees Gloria and Arthur Greenspan found the talk of "viability" strange. In a Democratic caucus, a "viable" candidate is one who gains backing from a large enough percentage of caucus participants to earn a delegate.

Those who fail to reach viability must disband, and participants may then support another candidate.

"I've decided to just tell people to show up, that we can teach them everything there," Kihuen said.

Hans Gullickson, caucus director for the Nevada Republican Party, said his biggest challenge has been "letting people know how easy Republican caucuses are. They're hearing too much about how complicated it is."

Still, some would prefer keeping their political preferences to themselves. Public wheeling and dealing are an important part of the caucuses and that means others on hand know whom you support.

According to Steve Fernlund, president of the Red Rock Democratic Club, the privacy issue will be one of the most difficult hurdles to a large turnout.

"People are used to voting booths, and they're not used to having to say publicly why they're voting," he said. "You hear this over and over from people."

Retired schoolteachers Dottie and Jesse Lewis, who grew accustomed to primaries while living in Pennsylvania, were upset about having to publicly divulge who they support during the caucuses.

"I never even tell my wife who I vote for. That's nobody else's business," Jesse, a Democrat, said as he registered voters at a library in their adopted hometown of Laughlin.

"Voting should be private," Republican Dottie said. "We're going to take part because we're Americans, but there is a better way."

After he and some of his political science students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas participated in a mock caucus, assistant professor Kenneth Fernandez said he liked the caucus process more than a primary.

"If your candidate in the caucus doesn't make the threshold (to earn a delegate), you get to go to another candidate," he said. "It gives you a chance to vote for a lesser-known candidate without throwing your vote away. ... You get a second chance."

Contact reporter Paul Harasim at pharasim @reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2908.