Yepsen discusses Iowa caucus

David Yepsen has been director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, since April 1, 2009. Yepsen hails from Des Moines, Iowa where he was the political editor and writer for the Des Moines Register for 34 years and is the premier expert on the Iowa Caucus’s covering the caucus ever since their inception in 1972.

Yepsen said the caucuses have changed since the early days in the 70’s and 80’s where people would gather in living rooms, gymnasiums, and schools to discuss the candidates. Small retail politics in Iowa no longer exist and with big media outlets and huge campaign staffs focusing heavily on the candidates, some of the intrigue and relaxation of choosing a candidate has given way to sideshows and huge campaign events. Yepsen said the caucuses have lost their intimacy and neighborhood feeling of what they once were. Yepsen said it was easier to get to know each individual candidate without the glare of national media.