Safest Prediction for the Outcome in North Dakota's Primary Is 'Cold'

[bicentennial_baby]

FARGO, N.D., Jan. 28 — The first campaign staff members for Senator John Kerry did not set up shop in North Dakota until last Friday, putting him months behind Howard Dean and Gen. Wesley K. Clark, whose campaigns have been working the state since the fall.

But no one here seems able to say whether, in the end, that late start will really make any difference.

This is only the second time North Dakota has tried to play a crucial role in the early weeks of a presidential primary season. In 2000, the state switched from holding primaries in June to a quasicaucus system in March involving secret ballots at party-sponsored locations. But by the time those caucuses were held, turnout was low because Al Gore had already locked up the nomination.

How low was it? Try 2,000 voters — in the entire state.

That was the reason party leaders decided to ignore their state's brutal winter weather and move the caucuses even earlier this year, joining the cluster of seven states voting on Tuesday. But with 96 caucus sites scattered across 70,704 square miles, many voters will need to drive an hour or more, and do so during a particularly fierce arctic spell.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/29/politics/campaign/29STAT.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWashington%2fCampaign%202004%2fCandidates%2fWesley%20K%20Clark

[krkaufman]

1. God, please drive safely, people. n/t

[mn9driver]

2. minus 44 F at the airport in Grand Forks this am

and that's not wind chill. Expect low turnout unless the temp comes up about 40 degrees or so.

Driver
Roachblog

[newyawker99]

7. Hi mn9driver!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kathleen04]

3. Sounds like the

worst possible place to have caucuses. Seems like regular voting where they could vote absentee would be so much more practical than driving an hour in the snow to their caucus site.

[WilliamPitt]

4. Christ, I think I have to go there

Damn this dream job anyway.

[Ediacara]

5. Will, you're such a pansy

Some of us DUers have to live in this kind of weather :-)

Just have a good hat and gloves and a wind proof coat, and LOTS of damn coffee :-)

OK, and seriously to the folks in North Dakota, be safe from your friends in slightly warmer Montana.

[dae]

6. Whoa, -44 degrees without wind chill? Man, I'll stop complaining about

our mid 50s here and keep you in our prayers. Good luck.

[Paulie]

8. You can start in Chicago for a "warm up"

It's in the neg single digits at night, and it's ONE F right now.

Be good practice for ya. :D :D :D