Caucuses fall on big night

Kufootball Those Kansans wishing again they could be part of the excitement generated by the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses have one good reason to be glad they’re not this time: The Jan. 3 caucuses conflict with the Orange Bowl, when No. 8 University of Kansas plays No. 5 Virginia Tech.
For their part, Iowans may put politics over the pigskin: Before KU’s inclusion was announced, a Des Moines Register poll found that just 5 and 4 percent of likely Republican and Democratic caucusgoers, respectively, were tempted to punt the voting to watch the game.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

10 Comments

  1. writerdog
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 11:00 am | Permalink

    That may be a winning strategy for the state party, like the Amendment being in an off year election year.The timing I do not believe was an accident, low voter turn out in general leaving mostly those that had the strongest desire about it i.e. the R.R. The question would be which party would profit from having the Primary on the same day as the game? Who is bigger K.U. fans Democrats or Republicans?

  2. Taz
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:17 pm | Permalink

    4 or 5 percent might pass due to a game? That high? For all the hoopla and hype, not everyone is enamored with televised games–whether football, basketball, or whatever.

  3. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

    And what, pray tell, does the Orange Bowl game, between the University of Kansas and Virginia Tech have to do with the average Iowan, much less those who are politically active enough to be involved in the caucus process in the first place?

  4. Ben
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm | Permalink

    Agreed VT – especially since the other VT is going to win!

  5. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:25 pm | Permalink

    Ben, I know you know I’m a KU alum and cannot let that one pass. While Virginia Tech is an early 3 1/2 point favorite (I’m told that by acquaintances that follow the betting line), I’m not ready to concede a defeat. It’s going to be a close game, IMO, and while Virginia Tech might win, I see no reason to think that KU might not have a better chance to win. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk…

  6. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:28 pm | Permalink

    Plus, as a KU alum, and one who is painfully aware of the prior history in the Orange Bowl, if nothing else, the “third time’s the charm”.

  7. Doug
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

    Perhaps people who think a silly game is more important than Democracy should just stay home.

  8. Ben
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 1:58 pm | Permalink

    VT – want to join me at Players for the fun?

    ;^)

  9. Jed
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    Let me think- fate of the nation or football…. That’s a tough one!

  10. Anonymous
    Posted December 11, 2007 at 2:15 pm | Permalink

    test