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In a surprise move last this afternoon Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced the cancellation of the caucuses that had been scheduled for this evening to allocate Iowa's delegates to the national nominating conventions of the two major political parties.
"I'd been mulling this action for several days," Miller said in a prepared statement. "Really, when you think about the amount of influence Iowa has on the nominating process is out of all proportion to our importance in the nation. Also, the whole caucus system, especially on the Democratic side, really doesn't do a good job of engaging the electorate or accurately reflecting the feelings of those who do attend."
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Some voters arriving early at their caucus site, only to find the buildings chained closed, expressed a mix of disappointment and acceptance. "Well it's probably all for the best, don't you know" said Mrs. Helen Featherhead of Toxic Rapids. "Really, I usually end up just flipping a coin. I'm not even sure I can pronounce the names of all the candidates correctly".
Other caucusers were less charitable. "I think it stinks" said Francis Randipants, a plumber who had skipped his regular bowling night to attend. Mr Randipants, who had committed separately to causing for seven of the Democratic candidates and three Republicans, said that attending the caucus was one of the highlights of his year. "Not a whole hell of a lot to do, out here, you know" he said.
The campaigns of the candidates were also split on this issue. A Clinton campaign press release stated that the campaign was "happy to abide by the will of the people of Iowa". David Axelrod, an Obama campaign strategist, expressed disappointment in the decision. Reached at campaign headquarters and Romney spokesman, who would not give his name, said only "Curses, foiled again" before hanging up the phone.
Election cancellations are rare. No major election has been canceled in the United States since the Supreme Court nullified the results of the 2000 Presidential election.