Nevada’s caucus was traditionally an afterthought. But that changed in 2008 when it joined a select group of states picked to hold early contests in January. Turnout was unprecedented: 117,599 Democrats turned out to caucus Jan. 19 — 12 times the number who caucused four years ago.
2008 Nevada Caucus
Chris Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Archive Highlights
Multimedia
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Video: The Culinary and The Caucus
Interactive: Voter demographics and contributions
Panorama: 360° of the caucus in Paris
Slideshow: Caucus day in photos
Candidates & Issues
- Democratic Candidates
- Hillary Clinton (Issues)
- Mike Gravel (Issues)
- Barack Obama (Issues)
- John Edwards (Issues)
- Dennis Kucinich (Issues)
- Republican Candidates
- Mike Huckabee (Issues)
- Duncan Hunter (Issues)
- Alan Keyes (Issues)
- John McCain (Issues)
- Ron Paul (Issues)
- Mitt Romney (Issues)
- Rudy Giuliani (Issues)
- Fred Thompson (Issues)
Democratic roundup: Abortion, Environment and Energy, Foreclosures, Health Care, Immigration, Iraq, Taxes, Yucca
Republican roundup: Abortion, Environment and Energy, Foreclosures, Health Care, Immigration, Iraq, Taxes, Yucca
Candidate Selectors: Democrats, Republicans
Reader Comments
Selected posts from the Jan. 19 Nevada Caucuses
Our precinct (2311) was so chaotic that Chelsea Clinton herself came in and helped to organize the entire affair. … But the sheer lack of directions, word-of-mouth misinformation, and questionable actions by all campaign representatives reinforced what we all know… we need to move to a primary process. The caucus requires too much preparation and instruction for our underfunded state organizations to pull off successfully.
The media should refrain from reporting on polls and allow all candidates equal time. Campaign financing should be public and equal to all candidates as well. Corporations and big money must be disconnected from the process. Only then will the people truly be able to choose fairly.
— Socrates on How Clinton hit pay dirt
My husband has been a loyal Culinary Union member for 25 years here in Las Vegas and he does not support the candidate the union chose. Since the Union backed Obama, my husband has come home every day with a leaflet from the union basically stating “your either with us or your against us!” Their intimidation and strongarm tactics did not work. How sad for them.
— bac432 on Culinary Union can’t muscle win
I realize that the State of Nevada switched from primaries to caucuses to save money. However, Harry Reid & Co. listen to me. The caucuses are a really bad idea, because they cause individual groups of Democrats to be hostile to each other live and in person. It’s going to be hard for the losing group of Democrats to stomach voting for the other candidate in November…given the real emotion I saw today. Next time, PLEASE have a primary!
— OldTimeDemocrat on Clinton wins Nevada
Thank you for making this point, Brian. How dare the networks call the election before the votes are counted. And how dare the Nevada GOP change the rules constantly before the election. This is America, not a banana republic.
— 1440minutes on Calling the winner before they count the votes
All in all a pleasant experience -- mostly because it was refreshing to see so many people interested enough in the future of this country to spend a few hours in a middle school gym. I’d still prefer a primary, as I had to schedule around it. I was told the state said they wouldn’t fund a primary election, so that’s why we are doing caucuses now?
— turtlegirl on My Caucus
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