A last minute decision for Edwards
Josh Devilbiss, did not know who he was going to caucus for until the last hours leading up the caucuses. He made a last-minute decision to support John Edwards and that decision influenced the result in Davenport’s 3-4 precinct at Davenport Schools administrative center.
Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton, were the only candidates will enough people to be viable. Obama had the largest number of supporters and captured two of four possible delegate seats outright. Edwards had exactly 18 supporters making him viable and giving him a delegate. However, supporters of the Obama campaign attempted to convince the Edwards camp to send one candidate over, which would give Obama three delegates. However, after some supportive words from the Clinton, including the offer to send over a supporter, the Edwards campaign stayed together.
Devilbiss explained that this last minute decision was a consequence of his liking of all of the Democratic candidates. Devilbiss had been a supporter of Edwards in the 2004 election and he felt that Edwards still deserved his vote. Edward’s last minute ads stressing his strong stance against the growing influence of corporate lobbyists also convinced Devilbiss to support Edwards.
At this site Obama had enough people to secure three out of the four delegates if one of the Edwards supporters switched. However, the Clinton people, who had no chance to get a second delegate, offered the Edwards campaign supporters in order insure that Obama did not get the third delegate.
Tushar Rae
Augustana College