By Lori EhdeLocal political activists kicked off the unofficial start of the 2004 presidential campaign during caucus meetings Tuesday night.The precinct caucus is the first step in the process that leads to writing and adopting party platforms. Delegates to conventions are selected and state and federal candidates are endorsed.Rock County DemocratsFor Democrats, participating in precinct caucuses meant having a say in who would be the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.The state DFL party endorsement requires 2,162 delegates. Prior to caucuses John Kerry held 613 and John Edwards had 192.According to the Rock County presidential preference tally sheet, 40 supported Kerry and 22 preferred Edwards.Rock County DFL Chair Ben Vander Kooi said about 100 people attended caucus activities in the Luverne Elementary School commons.In addition to choosing a presidential candidate, local Democrats also mulled over a list of resolutions.They includedoSeveral resolutions on education, including a moratorium on No Child Left Behind until it’s adequately funded.oRestricting public funding of campaignsoReducing the national debtoAllocating more money to U of M Extension, andoAn array of health care issues — including prescription drug costs and health insurance for the severely disabled.More than specific resolutions, Vander Kooi said Tuesday’s caucus produced an overall sentiment for local Democrats heading into the 2004 elections."The consensus is we need to get rid of Bush," Vander Kooi said. "And that’s clearly the sentiment [among Democrats] nationwide. … There’s a strong sense that we shouldn’t be in this war."As a side note to the DFL caucus, Kathryn Ness, Pipestone, showed up in Luverne to announce she’ll challenge Doug Magnus for Minnesota House District 22A.Rock County RepublicansWith an incumbent president, the Republican presidential nominee was obvious, and the Rock County Republican caucus was a quieter affair.Roughly 80 people attended activities at the Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Center, and a number of resolutions were turned in.Among them were resolutions about:oSame sex marriages — the need to define marriage as a union of man and woman.oThe war in Iraq and the war on terrorism and the president’s policies with regard to these.oSupport for recall of judges.oEducation policies, and making sure there’s a national system of accountability."Generally speaking, I think that the Republicans who showed up tonight are comfortable with the direction the president is taking the country," said Rock County Republican chair Bill Weber."They’re comfortable with President Bush being our candidate against an opponent like Sen. Kerry. …Sen. Kerry is certainly at the opposite end of the spectrum from what most Republicans are in terms of their philosophies."If the Rock County caucuses are any indication of how the national campaign will unfold, Weber said, "I think we’ll have a very basic conservative- vs. liberal-type of campaign."The Rock County DFL Convention will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in the Luverne Elementary School commons.The Rock County Republican Convention will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in the Luverne Elementary School Commons. During county conventions, resolutions are approved and delegates are elected to the district and state conventions.
