"Republican Caucuses Explained"

ROBERT SIEGEL, Host:

A Republican caucus in Iowa is less complicated. Just ask Ed Fravel who's hosting one in his home in Plymouth County this evening.

ED FRAVEL: Well, they come, they sign in. We're going give - depending on the amount of people here - we're going to give them each so much time to tell which person they like and why they like them. We then pass out a written ballot, go count the ballots. And then we have to turn those in, of course, to the state Republican Party.

SIEGEL: All in? Nobody's eliminated? No...

FRAVEL: Nobody's eliminated.

SIEGEL: So yours is a pretty straightforward caucus?

FRAVEL: It's a pretty straightforward caucus.

SIEGEL: You're not at all attracted to the idea of, you know, second preferences counting of some candidates who are eliminated, not doing very well?

FRAVEL: No.

SIEGEL: No? You stand by the Republican caucus, I see.

FRAVEL: Yes, we do.

SIEGEL: Well, Mr. Fravel, thank you very much for talking with us today.

FRAVEL: All right, thank you.

SIEGEL: That's Ed Fravel of Plymouth County, Iowa. He's hosting a Republican caucus this evening in his home north of Sioux City.