How the caucus system can benefit the underfunded candidates

Peter Blake explains at Complete Colorado,

There’s a reason underfunded candidates are fond of Colorado’s oft-criticized caucus-convention system: If they can stir the crowd, they can make a name for themselves against better known incumbents and rivals.

That’s exactly what Darryl Glenn and Calandra Vargas did during the GOP district and state assemblies over the weekend.

Who? Unless you live in Colorado Springs, you probably haven’t heard of either of them.


Calandra Vargas – Source: Facebook
Vargas, 32, was an intern for U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn five years ago. On Friday, she almost kicked him off the primary ballot after giving a passionate speech at the 5th District GOP assembly in a Colorado Springs hotel.

She captured 58 percent of the delegate vote to Lamborn’s 35 percent in a three-way contest. If the five-term incumbent had received 18 fewer votes, he wouldn’t have even made the 30 percent minimum.

The colorless but well-funded Lamborn has had primary challenges before, so it will still be difficult for Vargas, now an aide to state Sen. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, to win. But she’s off to a strong start thanks to the caucus system.

Glenn brought the 6,000 delegates at the state convention Saturday roaring to their feet with a rousing speech that pre-echoed themes stressed by presidential candidate Ted Cruz later in the day.

He then went on to capture an astounding 70 percent of the delegate vote, keeping six rivals off the ballot altogether. The pre-convention favorite, state Sen. Tim Neville, captured only 18 percent. That wouldn’t have even put him on the ballot 30 years ago when the minimum was 20 percent.



...Glenn has a strong resume: A graduate of the Air Force Academy, retiring as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years in the service; a 13-year Colorado Springs city councilman and two-term El Paso County commissioner. A powerlifter in college, he also has an MBA and a law degree from small New England colleges.

...The convention ran long, until about 7 p.m., and required patience through many long breaks where nothing seemed to be happening. But the system does give candidates like Glenn who don’t have the money to buy pre-primary advertising a good shot at winning free media and building momentum.

Read more here.