Homeland Security to oversee crowded Iowa caucus site

KXAN.COM

Josh Hinkle

Updated: Dec 30, 2011 7:22 PM

UNI Dome, site of next week's largest caucus in Iowa (University of Northern Iowa)

If you want to know how serious the Iowa Caucus is for voters there next Tuesday, just turn your attention to the Black Hawk County Republicans. During this presidential race, they will hold the largest caucus in the state, which has come with its fair share of challenges.

“We tried it back in 2008 and it was a debacle,” Judd Saul, BHCR spokesman and Cedar Valley Tea Party leader, told KXAN by email Friday. “We expected 1,000, and 3,000 showed up. It snowed ten inches, and the candidates were blocked in snow and cars.”

This year, Saul expects 6,000 Republicans to turn out, so they will hold their caucus at the University of Northern Iowa’s UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

Saul said, because of the sheer size of the event and concern from the Republican Party of Iowa, the Department of Homeland Security stepped in to oversee matters.

“This time, it’s at the largest venue in Black Hawk County and will be able to hold more than enough people,” he said, knowing all wards and precincts will be under one roof.

Traffic jam averted. Crowd secured. But what about the weather?

“(It’s) snowing (now) but not staying,” he added. “It’s supposed to 45 degrees on Tuesday.”

Check out the map below to see how organizers will squeeze everyone into the arena.

Copyright 2012 KXAN.COM. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Political Pulse

We welcome your thoughtful comments. Be the first to participate in the discussion. All comments will display your username and avatar.