Bush Wins GOP Race

January 25, 2000

Bush wins Iowa GOP caucus,
Forbes finishes a strong second

By Jessica Free and Jennifer Vogt
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service Drake University

DES MOINES, Iowa--No cheers of celebration or sighs of frustration greeted Monday night's Republican caucus results at Drake University Knapp Center in Des Moines. For the more than 180 media outlets in attendance, it was business. Get the numbers.

With 2,083 of Iowa's 2,131 precincts or 98 percent reporting, the results were considered final. Texas Gov. George W. Bush claimed a record victory with 41 percent, followed by publisher Steve Forbes with 30 percent. Commentator Alan Keyes took third with a surprising 14 percent. Trailing behind the leaders were Gary Bauer with 9 percent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., with 5 percent and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, with 1 percent.

Kayne Robinson, Iowa Republican Party chairman, said, "We've had a great turnout tonight." More than 86,000 Iowans participated in the 2000 Republican caucuses.

The first votes were reported to state auditor Richard Johnson and his team at 7:28 p.m. Johnson then began tabulating results and calling them into the Knapp Center. Many precincts were not as quick to report results.

Dee Stewart, Iowa Republican Party executive director, said Iowa's Republican caucuses operate much like a presidential straw poll, legally sanctioned by the state code. "Each precinct elects two delegates to the county Republican convention, which will be held in March," Stewart said.

The voting is conducted by secret ballot, then counted within individual precincts by supporters of each candidate.

"The results are seen all over the country and the world," Stewart said. "Candidates who do well tonight will receive positive publicity and have an opportunity to raise more money for their campaigns."

While Stewart rushed to arrange media interviews with Chairman Robinson, Phyllis Kelly, national chairwoman of Iowa, sat in the bleachers quietly observing.

"My job is to take Iowa's Republican ideas and policies to the national level, but tonight I'm just here out of personal political interest...and for the ice cream," she said.

Wells Blue Bunny provided the ice cream treats for the event. Jolly Time Popcorn, based in Sioux City, Iowa, supplied popcorn, and HyVee Food Stores donated bottled water. Sandwiches were also available to hungry media members, provided by the Iowa Republican Party.

Non-media attendees included a group of young volunteers. "I"m called a runner," said Solange Franklin, a 14-year-old Des Moines middle school student. "I bring printed copies of the results to the (media) tables. So far, I'm enjoying it."

Amidst the tangle of cords, television cameras, laptop computers and cell phones, Drake University senior Amy Pearson listened intently as updated results were announced every 10 to 20 minutes. Pearson was working for Voter News Service, which sent results directly to its subscribers, including the Associated Press, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC.

"We give them the facts they go by in their reports," Pearson said.

After making several phone calls to Voter News Service headquarters in New York City, Pearson said: "It's exciting because I'm right down in the middle of everything. It's like being in the back seat where I can keep a close eye on the candidates."

Caucus participants and GOP officials also kept a close eye on candidate Keyes. "His percentage is certainly a surprise, although he was predicted to come in third," Kelly said.

Robinson agreed. "Keyes is doing better than most people expected him to," he said. "I'm really proud of all of our candidates."

"Iowans have the chance to see these men in small meeting after meeting," Robinson said. " We got to see what they're really like. We're given an excrutiatingly detailed look at them in Iowa that complements the broader national coverage they'll receive from here on out."

Of the large caucus turnouts, Robinson said: "A lot of Iowans have paid close attention to this election, and I'm confident that they made very educated decisions tonight. The nation should respect these results as an indicator of what's to come."