Tweet

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both held rallies on campus in the days leading up to the Iowa Caucuses.  Many Grand View students attended these events as well as the caucuses on Feb. 1, but the motivations for going varied.

Melanie Russell, (Sr.) physical education major, was hoping to become more educated by attending the Clinton rally.  She said she did learn a little and that Clinton seemed confident at the rally.  Jacob Adams, (Fr.) sports management major, said because it seemed like a big event that involved the whole community, he should get involved too.

Jacob Redman, (So.) psychology major, dressed up in a U.S. flag outfit for the day of Clinton’s rally.  He said his reason for coming was to support Hillary Clinton.

The rally was Redman’s first time attending such an event.  He said it was similar to his expectations and was a good experience.

Redman also attended Sanders’ rally to hear the differences between the two candidates but said he found it unprofessional and concert-like.  He said both rallies solidified his vote for Clinton.

Carlos Rodriguez, (Fr.) secondary education major originally from Puerto Rico, also attended Sanders’ rally.  He said Puerto Rico does not have as large elections as in the U.S., and that he was hoping to see something in Sanders that he did not see in Clinton, or vice versa.

Dalton Speers, (Sr.) business administration major, and Tucker Lehman, (Sr.) accounting major, caucused as Republicans on Feb. 1.

“I believe that we need a Republican in office, and I want my voice to be heard,” Speers said.  Neither he nor Lehman had been to a caucus before.

Speers said he did not know what to expect from a caucus, and Lehman joked that he thought there would be “some fights.”  Both Speers and Lehman were supporting Ben Carson.

The winner of their precinct, Des Moines Precinct Three, was Ted Cruz with 24 votes.  Carson only received seven votes, putting him near last in the precinct.

Lehman said the experience was “eye-opening” as he left the caucus.  He said he was surprised at the lack of middle-aged caucus-goers, who he thought would be the most involved in politics.  Speers said he was surprised there were much fewer Trump votes than he expected.  He said it was more “formal and intense” than he was expecting.

Lehman urged others to caucus in the future, saying, “Just go.  It’s so easy.”  He said that although the initial registration paperwork was frustrating, it was justified.  He also said that the people who run the caucuses know the most efficient way of doing so and that the caucus only lasted an hour.

“If it takes no money, no time and no effort, what else is there really?” Lehman asked.

The winner of the Republican caucus statewide was Ted Cruz, with 28 percent of the vote.

Hillary Clinton won the Democratic caucus with 49.9 percent of the delegates with Sanders following close behind with 49.6 percent of the delegates.