Iowa Caucus History

Although the Iowa caucuses are more than a century old, their national impact on the selection of presidential candidates is a fairly recent phenomenon.

It generally is agreed the success enjoyed by Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1976 gave tremendous credibility to the caucuses, although they did receive passing attention during George McGovern's candidacy in 1972, when the South Dakota Democrat finished second to Edward Muskie but later won the party's nomination.

Although Carter didn't receive a majority of the support in the 1976 Democratic caucuses, his 27.7 percent showing was the highest among five Democratic candidates. His performance captured national attention, putting him on the road to the nomination.


Republicans paid comparatively little heed to the caucuses in 1976, although a straw poll was conducted at 62 sites, involving less than 600 participants. Gerald Ford was a narrow choice over Ronald Reagan, 51.6 percent to 48.4 percent.
Results were remarkably similar to delegate preferences at the state convention: 52.8 percent for Ford, 47.2 percent for Reagan.

In 1980, with approximately 106,000 people involved, Reagan again was the second choice of Republican caucus participants. George Bush won 31.6 percent support and Reagan 29.5 percent.

It is acknowledged that Reagan's second-place showing in Iowa provided the impetus that eventually led to a successful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

In Democratic caucuses in 1980, Carter topped Edward Kennedy nearly 2-to-1 and then went on to win his party's nomination.

In 1984, with Reagan uncontested for his party's nomination, he was the clear choice of Iowa Republican caucus participants.

In Democratic caucuses that year, Walter Mondale received 45 percent. Gary Hart was a distant second with 15 percent.

And if you read any of that - I'm impressed, since I was simply looking for a reason to post the two Howard Dean pictures I'd been holding onto for the last couple years.