Deomcratic Race continues in "Where America's Day Begins"

They are caucusing today in Democratic nominating contests in Guam today. Actually they began yesterday (our time) in the U.S. South Pacific Territory with the motto, "Where America's Day Begins."

The Washington Post reports:

The race for the Democratic presidential nomination that has stretched across 15 months and 45 states and territories transfers to Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory, "where America's day begins." And because of that time difference, the Saturday Democratic Party caucuses in Guamanian towns and villages began at 8 p.m. Friday EST, and will continue overnight.

At stake in the contest, which more closely resembles a day-long primary than a true caucus, are four convention delegate votes.

Both Democratic contenders have reached out to the island to an extent unprecedented in previous campaigns. Obama's campaign opened the first-ever presidential primary campaign office in Guam, hired paid staff, and pursued all the usual highly networked touches for which the campaign has become known.

... Obama himself pens Guamanians a letter thanking them for their support. "You have challenged conventional thinking and built a grassroots network in Guam, and your work will have a lasting impact on the island for a long time to come," he writes. He emphasizes his growing up in Hawaii, and on his website blog campaign callers report: some call Barack, "The Island Boy." And from the Guam Pacific Daily News:

"Residents began lining up in large numbers this morning at 10 a.m. to cast their vote for the Guam Democratic Party's chairman and vice chairman -- who will act as superdelegates with a full vote in the ongoing Democratic presidential nomination....

Yona resident Tommy Shimizu said he was voting for Obama. He had been at the Yona Mayor's office all day, passing out information about the presidential hopeful.

"It's the fact that he grew up in Hawaii, and I think he can make change," he said. "I think it's time for that."Shimizu added that today's opportunity to have a voice in the party nomination for presidential candidate was "a big step for Guam."

Clinton, not to be outdone, released a Web video this morning, "Hillary's Message to Guam." Clinton's campaign did not open an office, preferring to rely on a network of volunteers, but it did offer her husband, the former president, for interviews with local TV stations over the past week. And, unlike Obama, the Clintons have previously traveled to Guam -- a fact her supporters have repeatedly cited as proof that she gets the island. "She's been here. She loves Guam and she has historical ties to our island," Clinton backer Taling Taitano told Marianas Variety.

Turnout is expected to be high, especially compared to the 1,000 people who turned out for the 2004 primary caucuses, and one local Democratic official told Marianas Variety that 5,000 ballots had been printed.
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This unprecedented Guam Game gives us an opportunity to breifly review some more quick hitting ideas you might need for Monday's AP Test.

• Remember political parties are linkage institutions. There is nothing in the Constitution about political parties. That's a reason why the Democratic Party has decided to give the residents of Guam -- a U.S. territory a say in their nominating contest. Guam, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are not represented in the Electoral College (Washington DC is represented in the EC but does not have Congressional Representation).
• In the past, state party officials would meet in caucus to endorse the party candidate prior to presidential primaries. That led to sometimes brokered conventions. Abuses of that caucus system led to many states abandoning its use, but Iowa (noticed more because of its first status) and 14 other states and territories use caucuses t nominate presidential candidates. Today, however, they are open to all members of the party.
• Most states use the primary election system we see continuing to play out (Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday). There are several types of primaries:
• Closed Primary -- Only voters who are registered in the party may vote to choose a candidate. Separate primaries are held by each partyand voteres must select a primary in advance. Recently, however, many states have adopted same day registration.
• Open primary -- Voters may choose the candidates of either party, whether they belong to the party or not. Voters make the decision of which party to support in th voting booth.
• Blanket primaries -- Previously used in California, Washington and Alaska, are when voters may vote for candidates of either party (Republican for one office, Democrat for another). Ruled unconstitutional by US Supreme Court in 2003.
• Runoff primary -- When no candidate from a party receives a majority of the votes, the top two candidates face each other in a runoff.
• Special elections -- Whenever an issue must be decided by voters before a primary or general election is held. (ie: Bill Foster vs. Jim Oberweiss House Race to fill Dennis Hassert' vacated seat).

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Remember, a complete American Government Review guide is linked on the April 21 post. Check it out. Find under the review for test here post, the link to Sunday night's radio review (9-11 pm on Sunday) and follow my "simulcast" under the comments section of that post.

Monday -- Cinco de Mayo Test day -- breakfast review in 302 6:30 am. American Test begins at 7:25 in Room 156. There will be a 15-minute break between exams. Good Luck! Study and post any questions you have on Thursday's "review here" post.

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UPDATE Don't think every vote counts? Well each and every one did in the Gaum.

CNN Reports:

(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama won Guam's Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday by just seven votes, according to a Guam election official.

With all 21 precincts reporting, Obama finished with 2,264 votes, or 50.1 percent. Sen. Hillary Clinton got 2,257 votes, or 49.9 percent.

The presidential candidates were battling for Guam's four pledged delegate votes. Eight delegates will be elected, each with half a vote at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, this summer.

According to CNN's latest estimate, Obama has a total of 1,734 delegates (1,491 pledged delegates, 243 superdelegates). Clinton has a total of 1,597 delegates (1,332 pledged delegates, 265 superdelegates).

Although called "caucuses," Saturday's event in Guam functions more like a party-run primary.

Watch more on Guam and the 2008 election »

Voters cast secret ballots in polling places as opposed to publicly aligning themselves in presidential candidate preference groups, as in more traditional caucuses, such as in Iowa and Nevada.