Caucus Math 101: Bring a Calculator

There's a guy who brought a calculator and a woman who goes over her instruction sheets with a highlighter as Ward runs through her PowerPoint presentation. There are candy canes on the tables. There are seasonal sweaters on the women. There is a lot of terminology tossed about: viability, realignment, preference groups.

A fellow who's been through the caucuses before offers advice to the group: "I'd recommend having a person help you that's got a calculator and likes math," he says.

At 26, Ward is one of the youngest people in the room and already an expert in the complications of democracy, having worked for John Kerry during the last presidential race. She offers worst-case scenarios.

As in: "What if a non-viable preference group decides to leave without realigning?" And: "What if two or more preference groups are tied for the gain or loss of a delegat e?"

And then, toward the end of the math session, she says, "It's actually easier than it sounds."

"Is this where the break comes in?" Fulton asks.

People eat cookies.

After the break, Ward explains some more rules. How to elect delegates. How to form the committees, one of which is actually called the "Committee on Committees." What to do with the ABR forms (don't ask) and what to put in Envelope B.

Then, everyone does a quick mock caucus to practice -- though instead of presidential candidates, they align themselves by which Iowa landmark they like best.

(The National Hobo Museum in Britt will wind up winning the most delegates.)

"I just thought that I was coming to help," says Connie Kerrigan of nearby Afton, standing in one of the corners. "I didn't know what I was getting into."