Posted by:
PtLoma
(
)
Date: October 17, 2010 12:15PM
Given the high SAHM LDS population, caucuses I think inflate the LDS presence, because these meetings are often held on weekdays when normal working folks cannot participate. It skews toward retirees and SAHMs. So I would not be surprised if your caucus was top-heavy with LDS SAHMs and retirees. I think the primary election system is more fair/representative, because those with time to vote---but not hours for a caucus---are not disenfranchised.
The point about LDS bloc voting, even in a GOP caucus or primary, is still valid as far as expanding the bloc's influence relative to its numbers. Had Mitt not been running in say AZ, the LDS GOP vote would have been scattered among the other candidates (maybe not Huckabee, but certainly McCain and others who were not openly hostile to Mormons). But when Mitt got >95% of Mormon votes, but only 35% statewide, it shows you where his votes came from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Republican_primary,_2008Note he also won some of the lightly populated but heavily Mormon counties of far eastern Arizona (St. Joseph, Show Low, etc.).