Caucuses' success healthy for democracy

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Nebraska Democrats deserve a pat on the back for scheduling their party’s first presidential primary caucuses.

They put Nebraska on the map in a historic election. For the first time in a long time, people from coast to coast cared about which potential presidential nominee Nebraska Democrats preferred.

The benefits extend beyond this singular event. Ideally, the caucuses may signal a return of healthy political competition in the state.

The Journal Star editorial board long has lamented the Democratic Party’s inability to field candidates and offer meaningful alternatives on issues to Nebraska voters.

Competition is healthy for democracy. Competition means vigorous discussion of policy alternatives, examination of new ideas, challenging old assumptions. Competition keeps officeholders on their toes, looking for ways to improve.

Democratic leaders — particularly national committee member Vince Powers, who broached the idea — deserve congratulations for finding a way to reinvigorate their party. They’ve pumped freshness and vigor into a political scene that has been stale.

Granted, there were problems in the initial effort. The most glaring was the attempt to have all Democrats in Sarpy County report to a single caucus site.

Traffic was backed up for 4 miles near Papillion-LaVista High School. People had to wait in long lines outside in the cold. There was confusion on how to vote.

And it’s true, as Republicans pointed out, that the 38,000 people who voted in the caucuses were markedly fewer than the 72,000 who voted in the Democratic presidential primary in 2004. In addition, some Democrats said they prefer the anonymity of secret ballots rather than face-to-face interaction.

But there’s little doubt that the party found new energy and connected with people who only days ago were outside the system.

In Lancaster County alone, 2,547 people registered as Democrats during the caucuses. Party leaders estimate they might gain 7,000 new party members.

The rally atmosphere of the caucuses is likely to transform some formerly uninvolved citizens into active political volunteers.

As one Democratic leader put it, the stars fell into alignment to give the caucuses maximum impact. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the race for the nomination was still wide open after the primaries on Super Tuesday. Adding luster was the certainty that the race would end in a historical first. Either Hillary Clinton would be the Democrat’s first female presidential candidate, or Barack Obama would be the first black candidate.

Whether the caucus system is the best long-term answer for choosing candidates is still debatable. But there’s little doubt that in the short run, the change this year gave Nebraska Democrats a needed boost.