`Zombie' campaigns could pick up support in Iowa caucuses

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa caucuses could feature an attack of the “zombie” candidates.

As some Democrats prepare for Monday's contest, they say they're planning to side with candidates who have been out of the race for weeks, even months. By caucusing for Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, voters say they want to establish a record that those who bowed out early did indeed have supporters.

“I really still feel that for me, Cory Booker’s the right person to be the president," said Bryce Smith, the Dallas County Democratic Party chairman who had endorsed Booker and was organizing for him in his precinct. “I think it sends a clear message that Cory was important in this race.”

Such tactics reflect the unique and complicated nature of the caucuses.

In a primary, voters simply choose their preferred candidate. Caucuses require strangers and neighbors to spend a winter evening in high school gyms or community centers. Participants first line up for their favored candidate. If that candidate doesn't receive more than 15% of the vote in the room, the candidate is eliminated and supporters can align with one of the remaining White House hopefuls.

The results are counted again. Delegates are awarded based on that final number.

The caucuses have an added twist this year because the Iowa Democratic Party will release more data than ever. While the party previously only released information on delegates, it will now report the first round of voting, the second vote “realignment" and the final delegate count.

The Associated Press will base its race call of the winner on state delegate equivalents because delegates are the measure used to decide the eventual winner of the nomination. But the new information is causing some voters to take their first round choices more...