I’m in the Cedar Rapids area. This would be the second largest city in Iowa behind Des Moines.
Based on what I have seen so far this thing is moving fast…..appears very organized and I am anxious to get started. Most of what I have seen has been through facebook. I am not an avid user, but this is how the info. is being spread from what I have seen.

There is an organizer in our area. He posted that they didn’t have a location yet, but was very close. I am going to assume it will be one of those listed for Monday.
The 20th the organizer is hosting “Yearn For Bern: The 1st Organizing Meeting for Bernie Sanders” He has posted that the organizers were in Des Moines for two days for training and I think he is back now.

I don’t want to say much more yet mostly because I do not want to mislead anyone. In my opinion, the Bernie campaign is definitely not here for show. I am more and more convinced they are in it to win this thing.

and, if so, how would you compare the momentum in the Bernie campaign with other campaigns in the past?

Also, I'm concerned that the DNC is going to move in on Bernie in the Iowa Caucuses much the same way they did with Dean -- bulldoze through the area and convince Sanders' supporters to switch to Hillary. While in 2004, Dean was to the left of Kerry but not significantly (with the exception of support for the Iraqi war) whereas the comparison between Hillary and Sanders couldn't be more stark. I guess what I'm asking is what is your take on how committed the Bernie Sanders supporters are in Iowa? Do you think they can be turned as they were in 2004?

Thanks.

You ask questions that could take me paragraphs to answer. I will condense best I can.
I have been involved with past caucuses. I have hosted two with the first being in the 1992 election. Clinton was my 6th choice.
It's very early and making predictions would be impossible. I will say that so far the Sanders campaign is way ahead of where I would have expected it at this time. Many of the decisions are not made until the last 30 days. Honestly I am amazed at what is going on.......like everyone else I have been waiting for something like this most of my life.

2004 was much different. IMO Deans support was a mile wide and maybe an inch thick. His people did not show up. Most were new to the caucus and I think intimidated by it. Kerry had the establishment people all along much like Hillary will have. Those stalwarts that live there life around this type thing. Edwards is the one that came out of no where that year.....very late in the campaign here.

The Obama team schooled the caucuses in 2008. They took what Dean did and went a step further. They taught these same new people how to do a causcus with teach-in's. Those same people who didn't show up to help out Dean now are caucus goers because of these. I think that sort of changes the dynamic here. So far it looks to me like Clinton is doing it old school. I'm not sure that will be successful.

Again I think it is very early and I am extremely impressed so far with what I have seen from the Sanders team. It will be about who gets the people out.

I realize that was a boatload of questions but I'm in California and don't understand the ins and outs of the caucus process so getting information from an "insider" is extremely valuable.

Here's hoping the Bernie campaign will do the same thing Obama's team did, i.e., have teach-ins and ensure caucus goers aren't intimidated by the process.

Thanks again for your response.