What is a primary vs caucus?

Answer 1

The presidential primary elections and caucuses held in the various states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States form part of the nominating process of candidates for United States presidential elections. The United States Constitution has never specified the process; political ... Another is that most election laws do not normally apply to caucuses.

Answer 2

Primaries and caucuses are the way that parties select the candidate they want to run for office. Party members vote for their favorite candidate and then IN THEORY they all then cast their vote in the main election for the winner.

Answer 3

The purpose of the primaries and caucuses in the elections is to pare down the field of candidates. Usually by the time the convention comes, the field is down to two or possibly three candidates for nomination.

Answer 4

Primaries and caucuses serve to instruct party delegates to their respective national conventions which candidate(s) to support the nomination of for various political offices. For instance, before the official nomination and acceptances thereto for the office of President of the United States, the Party not in control of the Presidency entertains a field of candidates, all of whom describe themselves as "running for President".

In reality, however, each is in pursuit of the nomination as their Party's candidate for the office--and not speaking to voters at large or electors in the Electoral College--but uncommitted Party delegates. Once a threshold number of delegates declare for a particular candidate, that candidate is all but assured the nomination--which does not legally and officially occur until such nomination is made, and accepted, at each Party's National Convention.

Answer 5

They eliminate some contenders and narrow the field. They also allow the citizens to get to know the candidates and make a decision for the general election.

Answer 6

The related link supplies the rather complicated answer for the 2012 election.