Iowa Democrats exploring ways to expand caucus

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Iowa are devising ways to expand access to their state's leadoff presidential caucuses, addressing concerns raised by Hillary Rodham Clinton following her disappointing finish in 2008.

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan offered a series of recommendations Friday to members of the Democratic National Committee, including legislation requiring employers to give non-essential workers time off to attend the caucuses, allowing out-of-state Iowans serving in the military to participate by teleconferencing and creating satellite caucus sites for shift workers and elderly who can't easily attend.

"There is nothing that we take more serious politically than our role in the presidential selection process," Brennan said. He told the committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee that "if there is a way that we remove some of these barriers ... then we should do it."

The former secretary of state's name was not mentioned during the morning discussion but the changes appeared aimed at addressing some of Clinton's chief concerns following the 2008 caucuses, when she finished in third place behind Barack Obama and John Edwards. Clinton complained then that the Iowa rules prevented people who work at night from attending.

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