dr. kaufmann said, getting out face-to-face. i would hate to see a time when sound bytes and someone on just tv is going to be our president. and no onenehas asked them those questions. asked them those follow-up questions or looked them in the eye. seriously. they come and see the candidates and come to forums like this. this is what iowans do so well and more need so w know thehe what they say. and not just an easy answer to the question, but the follow-up answer. i think this is a great place we have here to do this. i think we take it very seriously. and as jeff said, it's the right size. it has the right rural versus urban. it has very interested citizens and i thinin we do a great job. >> one follow-up professor covington, there is before the caucuses people perceiveded as the clear frontrunner and by the time the caucuses come around they are not a part of the conversation. is that part of the process? it's a marathon and some don't make it? >> the political science we talked about name recognition. the early polls tend t

dr. kaufmann mentioned this, we want everyone to come and have a level playing field. if our governor said i endorse this particular candidate. then other candidates may shy away from the state. we sort of that had that happen in '92 in the democrats when our senator harkin decided to run and others didn't compete hard. and the same thing might happen if our office holders by and large started to endorse people well ahead of the caucuses. other candidates might think the fix is in, i will go elsewhere. we don't want that. we think everyone should compete in iowa. and the way to do that is for state officials to stay neutral. you dr. mcguire the two parties maintain that first process. if i follow what professor hagle is saying, if state officials start to divide along party lines. it gives ammunition for other states to say forget iowa, we want it to be here, is that correct? >>>>yes, i think if everyone did it would be a problem. it's a free country and some will gi with a certain candidate. and inside of the structure, county chairs go with a person. and that is fair

dr. andy mcguire -- and jeff kaufmann -- the republican party chair -- are extremely careful not to favor one candidate over another -- so the huge amount of campainging that each candidate will do -- answering as many questions from as many voters as possible. possible.that personal experience is really important to the candidates as well becuase it gives them an idea both how voters think about a variety of issue but it also proves their political skills. both parties say it mes the candidates betttt for the later r ates -- and identifies the ones who don't perform as well.the process also changes the iowans who take part in it. it.now you're standing up in front of people that yoyod knknn your entire life saying why you're up in front of this person knowing you're going to make a few people mad. once people have done it once, there are a lot of people who are hooked. hooked.there's a little check box you can do if you're interested in running for office. we get a lot of candidate becuase they'll check - well i'm thinking of a congressman leonard boswell, that's how he started his caree

dr. dy mcguire e and jeff kaufmann -- the republican party chair -- are extremely careful not to favor one candidate over another -- so they don't get in the way of the huge amount of campainging that each candidate will do -- answering as many questions from as many voters as possible. possible.that personal experience is really importan to the candidates as well becuase it gives them an idea both how voters think about a variety ofofissue but it also proves their political skills. both parties say it makes the candidates better for the later states -- and identifies the ones who don't perform as well.the process also changes it.now you're in it. it.who take art the iowans who take part in it. it.now you' standing up in ont of people that you'd known your entire life saying why you're up in front of this person knowing you're going to make a few people mad. once people have done it once, there are a lot of people who are hooked. hooked..there's a little check box you can do if you're interested in started his career, because he checked a box at a caucus and we've already told you about th