Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster 2020

The Iowa Caucuses are a critical and closely watched part of the presidential nomination process. The 2020 Democratic Iowa Caucus race proved to be an interesting test for an unusually large field of candidates. From the early stages of the race in late 2018 until Caucus Day on February 3, 2020, as many as two dozen candidates vied for their party's nomination. The dynamics of the race built slowly until major shifts in support among the top candidates provided for a "split decision" as to the winner. As with prior caucus races, the changing dynamics of the race gave it an almost rollercoaster feel as candidates rose and fell in the polls.In Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster 2020 Tim Hagle, a University of Iowa political science professor, examines the events that shaped the 2020 caucus race. As a critical observer of the Iowa Caucuses, Hagle provides insight into the factors that affected each candidate's support among Iowa's voters. Each chapter provides Hagle's analysis of the events that occurred during the prior two to four week period and how those events affected the standing of the candidates. The point-in-time approach of the chapters allows the reader to get a sense of how the campaigns developed and changed from an on-the-ground perspective. Hagle takes us from the early stages when it wasn't even clear which candidates would enter the Democrats' nomination race, through the intense, final days when several candidates had fallen away and support for Sanders and Buttigieg was surging. Along the way, Hagle provides explanations of the Iowa Caucuses and the Democrats' caucus night procedures. He also discusses why grassroots organizing is so critical to caucus success, and highlights pitfalls that campaigns should avoid. Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster 2020 is a valuable read for anyone interested in presidential campaigns, grassroots politics, or the Iowa Caucuses.