Non-binding primaries and caucuses bring attention to states but cost money

By Shira Schoenberg, Globe Correspondent

The Republican National Committee sent out a reminder about the three presidential nominating contests tonight: The contests are irrelevant.

Well, not quite. But last night’s email from RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer made clear to reporters: “For those of you covering the race for the GOP presidential nomination and writing about the current delegate count, please keep in mind that no delegates will be awarded tomorrow.”

Tonight’s caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and primary in Missouri are three examples of contests that have received attention from candidates and the press – but have little implication in the race for delegates. The spate of non-binding contests is the result of several factors, including the desire of states to vote early enough to be meaningful in the selection process, combined with rules that give states incentives to choose their nominees later on.

While some state officials are thrilled to see candidates criss-crossing their states for non-binding contests, not everyone is happy about it. “We’re having a $7 million straw poll, while we’re cutting $500 million from our budget,” said Missouri state Senator Kevin Engler, a Republican who sponsored a bill to eliminate today’s primary. “I’ve been here 10 years, and this is the dumbest thing I’ve seen.”

Tonight’s caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota are a chance for voters to make their preferences known. But Colorado’s 36 delegates will be chosen at district conventions followed by a state convention April 14, Spicer wrote. Minnesota’s 40 delegates will be chosen at district conventions in April and a state convention May 5. Missouri’s delegates will be chosen beginning with caucuses in March and ending with a state convention June 2. There are a handful of other states holding non-binding contests later on in the process.

Linda Fowler, professor of government at Dartmouth College, said the difference in state voting processes shows a “widespread differentiation in the strength of parties in different states.” For example, voters in Minnesota can voice their preference, but state party officials have more leeway to influence the choice of delegates through the convention process.

Fowler said it is a throwback to the 1950s and 1960s, before many states adopted binding primaries. In those days, Fowler said, “Most of the delegates were chosen by party convention or party caucus, and party leaders controlled what was going on.”

This year, the non-binding contests are seen as a way to gain momentum going into the next three weeks. The next primaries are not until Feb. 28. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, for example, could use a victory or a strong showing in Minnesota to argue that he is not only a viable candidate, but the best alternative to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Some state officials insist that the contests have a significant impact. Colorado’s political parties held primaries until 2000, then switched to caucuses to save money. Then in 2008, the Colorado caucuses were scheduled for mid-March, which was anticipated to be too late in the race to make a difference. So the state instituted a “preference poll” on Super Tuesday in early February. Turnout was higher than in the past, and Colorado received more attention.

Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party in 2008, said the system allows all Republicans to have a greater voice, and the result of tonight’s preference poll will be reflected in which delegates get elected to the county conventions and the state convention. “It’s nonbinding. It’s not insignificant,” Wadhams said. All the delegates chosen tonight have a chance at becoming national delegates in April.

Chuck Poplstein, executive director of the Colorado Republican Party, said tonight’s caucuses cost “several thousand dollars.”

Minnesota, like Colorado, was often ignored because of its small size or later nominating contest. This year, as in Colorado, all four Republican candidates have campaigned there.

In Missouri, where former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will not appear on the ballot, the calculation was more complicated. The Legislature there decided to hold the presidential primary in February, in order to get attention from the media and candidates. When Missouri votes later, typically on Super Tuesday, “We’re a flyover state,” Engler said. But after the Republican National Committee established rules that would strip Missouri of delegates for voting in February, the Legislature tried to move the primary back to March. After some political maneuvering, the bill did not pass. So voters go to the polls today, but delegates will be awarded at a separate caucus in March.

“A lot of people stayed at home,” Engler said. “The intelligent ones knew it meant absolutely nothing.”