At this point, the Iowa Caucuses for both parties are, for the most part, exercises in false nostalgia (complete with straw hats and other old-timey accoutrements and rituals). They doesn’t reflect the real world of national politics, beyond what older white people think amd want (which is becoming less important as we become a majority-minority country where young people’s concerns take centre stage).
One day, the DNC might put in place a proper and modern primary system, with a more randomised selection of first (small population) primary state and standardised secret ranked-choice ballots and access to any registered Democrat. Until then, though, every four years candidates and journalists and those who follow politics are going to have to suffer through this deep-fried and corny dog-and-pony show.
