Democratic presidential caucus

By Brendan Buhler

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 | 2 a.m.

It’s easy to get caught up in election fever. Here’s a look back at the predictions of a few who were as the Democratic Party presidential caucus approached.

“He’s the only Democrat who can get elected in 2008.” — Doug McCarron, international president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, endorsing John Edwards in October. (Sun)

That might be true, if the Democratic ticket loses. We won’t know until November. On the other hand, it seems unlikely Edwards could have survived disclosure this summer that he had cheated on his popular wife, who has cancer. Verdict: One seven

“They’re finally recognizing me. I’ve got good moves. We’re rising in the polls. Things are looking up.” — Bill Richardson, Oct. 15 (Sun)

After finishing fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire, the New Mexico governor dropped out in early January. He urged the remaining candidates to swear off personally attacking one another. Verdict: No sevens

“Bill Clinton didn’t play in Iowa in 1992, so the idea of the Iowa caucus is sort of foreign to the way we campaign.” — Patti Solis Doyle, Hillary Clinton’s national campaign manager, September 2007 (Sun)

Long the national frontrunner, Clinton placed third in Iowa. Clinton went on to lose all but one caucus — in Nevada, where she won but managed to get fewer delegates than Obama. Solis Doyle was out of Clinton’s campaign by early February. Verdict: Three sevens