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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YneN-RInSS0[/youtube]
That’s what MSNBC’s Norah O’Donnell called today’s “gold medal” in Nevada for presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Sure the state was uncontested by any other Republican except for Ron Paul, but by winning out there, Romney picked up 31 delegates to South Carolina’s measly 24, right? So by bailing on this state in favor of an easy victory in the Silver State, Romney comes out on top and holds a huge delegate lead.
Well, that’s the spin coming from the Romney camp. And, as you can see in that clip above, it’s being pushed pretty heavily by another MSNBC anchor, my very favorite Joe Scarborough.
But there’s a problem.
Nevada isn’t awarding any delegates today. Actually, today’s caucus was basically the equivalent of a straw poll. Mark Halperin at The Page noted:
Delegate selection there is actually a 3-step process that is wholly independent from today’s results. Thus today’s presidential preference poll in Nevada is only a so-called “beauty contest.”
Now, if you’re interested in these steps, here they are:
§ Step 1 — Precinct caucuses on January 19th will elect county-conventions delegates
§ Step 2 — County conventions in mid-February will elect state-convention delegates
§ Step 3 — Delegates at the April 26th GOP state convention will elect national-convention delegates
In South Carolina on the other hand, we are awarding ALL of our delegates an, unlike Nevada, they will ALL be voting as pledged.
By your logic Iowa was also meaningless because they also were electing county delegates and not national convention delegates.
You and Nora O’Donnell are idiots:
Marc Ambinder says:
….and McCain campaign sends around video of NBC’s O’Donnell calling Romney’s win “in name only”….. (She is wrong: Romney wins delegates. How’s that “in name only,” NBC?)
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/nevada_south_carolina_live_wir.php#more
No, my point is that Romney’s “delegate lead” that he is now campaigning on and Scarborough is pushing is BOGUS. Iowa was crucial for momentum and to prove who can do what in a hotly contested Midwestern state.
Too funny. TPS would have spun this MUCH differently if Adam’s guy (McCain) had won.
I hope Huckabee wins SC, just to see how creatively this site can spin it as meaningless.
Oh i see. It has nothing to do with delagates, the method by which they are chosen, or who the delegates support.
Iowa is important because the media says it is important.
Nevada is not important because the media says it is not important.
Jason,
This state is HUGE either way. Period. Regardless of who wins, they will probably win the nomination.
[...] another reason why the current system needs to be reformed. Sphere: Related ContentAlthough as the Palmetto Scope notes, the delegates aren’t actually awarded today, and the results tonight could arguably be seen [...]
[...] much more significant than Nevada, despite the fact that Nevada awarded 18 delegates ((Although as the Palmetto Scope notes, the delegates aren’t actually awarded today, and the results tonight could arguably be seen [...]
You need to do a little research on the difference between a “Presidential Preference” primary or “beauty contest” and a caucus.
A caucus such as Nevada’s has actual candidates directly associated with the delegates who are selected. As these delegates advance through the state convention, they continue to vote for delegates who support their candidate so in fact, national delegates if not officially, are at least practically determined by today’s result.
On the other hand, a “beauty contest”, or “presidential preference” as they are often called, are not directly linked to delegates. It’s merely a way of letting the delegates know who the public likes, but the delegates are selected on a completely different ballot with no candidate association required. This is also known as a “loophole primary” since candidates historically used the loophole of getting friendly delegates elected rather than getting votes for themselves in the actual primary.
There are actually a handful of states that still use this system of delegate selection. Can you name them?
[...] written two posts in the last week detailing MSNBC host Joe Scarborough’s unabashed use of his position as an [...]
We are coming out of the normal time of year when we have flu circulating in the UK so we don’t really know what size of epidemic there may be in the next couple of months.