Marion Republican Supervisor Said He's "Embarrassed" by Unclear Caucus Results

With the avalanche of criticism over the Iowa's caucus' relevance in the presidential race, Brent Oleson said the still unclear results of the poll hurts Iowa's image further.

When asked how the Linn County Supervisor representing Marion felt about the mix-up made him feel as a Republican, he said he wasn't pleased.

"I'm embarassed, dissappointed, you know," he said.

"We are entrusted with a sacred tradition of first-in-the-nation status," Oleson said. "We are under constant assault from those who want to take it away. We shouldn't be giving them ammunition for them to take it away form us."

The unclear results stem from missing ballots in eight Iowa precincts that weren't counted. The total, aside from the missing precincts, puts Santorum ahead.

Linn County GOP Chair, Jim Conklin, said there is a very good reason for the error.

As he explains, the Caucus process is run and funded by volunteers from the Republican parties in counties. Because of this, some counties and precincts don't have the resources to train and inform caucus goers.

"It is unrealistic to think that volunteers are going to be held to the same rigor as on an election day," he said.

Conklin pointed out that the caucus process in itself is a straw poll, not an election, meaning the real goal of the caucus is not to jump start a front-runner, but to give all candidates a voice before the primary season starts.

So even though the results weren't perfect, he said he is proud that the caucuses gave a platform and elevated unlikely candidates.

"Can you imagine any other place where Ron Paul and (Rick) Santorum would be given them a voice?" he said.

Despite what he feels are the true intentions of the caucus, he said he wishes the process went smoother. Still, he doesn't want the caucuses to be a costly process.

"Would I like to have it more accurate? Yes. Would I like to spend more money to make it accurate, no," he said.