Leadership of the Idaho Republican Party will decide on July 16 whether to institute a caucus for 2012 instead of using the May presidential primary. See this story. Although the party does not have the power to eliminate the presidential primary, the party does have the authority to say that the Republican presidential primary will be a “beauty contest” and that the caucus will choose the delegates to the national convention.
States like Montana tried this in 2008 The Republican party spent so much money to accomplish their caucus, that they will go back to having all taxpayers pick up their tab, which is over one-million dollars for all of the 56 counties. In the caucus it was Mitt that placed first followed by Ron Paul, then McCain. Yet McCain took the primary in June and all the delegates, much to the surprise of Paul supporters, who voted in the caucus. I believe only central committee members were allowed to vote in the caucus.
In Idaho you only need 5 percent of the vote to start getting delegates. It sounds like the party leaders are wanting to short change the voters. It wouldn’t be the first time!!