Capitol Primary

After the iron-fisted Chicago convention in 1968, reform-minded Democrats vowed to get the bosses and the smoke-filled rooms out of politics. By the 1980 Democratic National Convention in New York City, they had almost succeeded in pushing the pros out. Of the 3,331 delegates in Madison Square Garden, only 309 -- a mere 9% -- were party officials and Democratic officeholders. To give party stalwarts a bigger role in 1984, the Democratic National Committee adopted new rules that will bring to the San Francisco convention at least 191 Congressmen and Senators and 370 other party and elected officials. Says William Sweeney, deputy national Democratic chairman: "You've got to have that layer of party leadership, as well as the people who govern."

A member of Congress has three ways to become a voting delegate. As in years past, he can run on a candidate's slate, like any other would-be delegate in his state. He can also be appointed to his state's contingent; the state delegations have been expanded so that there are now 10% more places, all of which are to be filled by party or elected officials pledged to various candidates. Or he can be elected, as an unpledged delegate, by his colleagues on Capitol Hill.

The House and Senate Democratic caucuses will oversee this unprece- dented election of delegates from Congress. The House Caucus, which may select its allotted 164 conventiongoers as early as Jan. 18, has adopted a complex election process. Two-thirds of the delegates will be nominated by twelve subcaucuses of Democratic backbenchers organized by geographic region; the remaining third will be put up by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, chaired by House Speaker Tip O'Neill. If a would-be delegate is passed over, he can put his candidacy before the House Democratic Caucus by persuading five colleagues to sign a nominating petition. Such candidates will be long shots, however, since the House Caucus is expected simply to ratify the nominations passed along by the twelve subcaucuses and the steering committee. The Senate Caucus, which chooses 27 delegates, has not yet decided on its election procedures.

Because the Capitol Hill delegation will technically be unpledged, the candidates are taking the election seriously. Comments Glenn Delegate Counter Michael Colopy: "It is the first and the biggest primary." This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.