THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Over a hundred Minnesota Dean organizers met tonight with representatives from the Edwards, Kerry, and Kucinich campaigns, and to determine what direction we should take for the caucus on Super Tuesday. Edwards personally called in to make another pitch to us, and Kerry sent Congressman Udall from New Mexico. Kucinich sent, well, Kucinich supporters - local grassroots people. We spent an hour asking the three campaigns questions, then another hour and a half talking amongst ourselves, after unanimously agreeing to abide by whatever decision was made.
At the end of discussion, an instant runoff ballot was taken. Of 105 votes cast, 67 were to support Edwards. Edwards was also the second choice of most of the other voters.
Minnesota Dean supporters, at least those who choose to abide by this decision, will now do GOTV efforts for Edwards on the Presidential Preference Ballot (a quasi-primary system glued to a caucus that clearly wasn't sufficiently obtuse). For caucusing itself, several options were bandied around, and no formal decision was made. There will probably be media coverage of this decision as well, hopefully balanced and thorough.
Regardless of the outcome of the caucus, the Minnesota Dean campaign WILL continue as an organized political force in the land of Wellstone. Now we'll see if we can deliver the state for Edwards!