In a long-expected move, the Executive Committee of the Republican
Committee voted Monday to strip half the delegates from five states
that moved their primaries up beyond a start date of Feb. 5. But even
though the Iowa GOP jumped from Jan. 14 to Jan. 3, they won't be
penalized, because the presidential vote at the Iowa Republican caucus
is non-binding, the AP reports. Iowa Republican caucus goers vote at a
"straw poll" and then later in the evening select the county
convention delegates who ultimately choose state and national
delegates. The results of the delegate vote are not connected to the
votes in the presidential straw poll.

Labels: caucus