PHILADELPHIA
The Republican convention started on a good note for the Iowa delegation as fellow delegates from around the country voted to keep the Iowa caucuses first in the nation for the 2004 Republican presidential nominating process.
"Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses is a respected tradition and an important step on the road to the White House," said Kayne Robinson, chairman of the Iowa GOP.
"We fought to retain the tradition," added Ron Herrig from Dubuque. "It is a big deal as it brings lot of money to the state and puts Iowa on the map."
The Delaware Plan to change the Republican nominating system was defeated in the party's rules committee meeting on Friday. The proposed plan would have required states to divide into four "pods." Each pod would have held primaries in an assigned month. Iowa was in the second pod.
"This was one of our primary concerns," said Roger Pease, a delegate from Cedar Falls. "Prior to the convention we were uncertain that we would be able to retain our status, and we are very satisfied with the way things have turned out."
Iowa's caucus system is generally credited with launching President Jimmy Carter's successful campaign in 1976. Supporters say the Iowa caucuses give partisans of both parties an opportunity to put candidates under the microscope in a fairly small state with few media markets, thus allowing candidates with small budgets to compete and attract attention and support.
