By Marshall Griffin
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan criticized lawmakers' efforts to dump the state's presidential primary in favor of a caucus system.
The Missouri Republican Party announced in September it would use county-wide caucuses to select its delegates for next year's national convention, and that the primary would be nothing more than a, quote, "beauty contest."
State GOP officials based their decision on the failure of lawmakers to pass a separate bill during the ongoing special session to move the primary from February to March - and they say getting rid of the primaries could save the state between $6 million and $8 million.
But Carnahan noted in 1996 tens of thousands of people showed up for caucuses in Missouri, far less than when the state holds primaries.
"In 2008, we had a presidential primary and 1.4 million people showed up," said Carnahan.
The State Senate is scheduled to take up the caucus bill next week. Meanwhile, the Missouri Democratic Party is also considering whether to stick with the primary or switch to caucuses.