Posted on 11/07/2008 4:56:21 PM PST by campg
Friday, November 7, 2008 12:00 PM CST Iowans played role in Obama victory
The state of Iowa can take its share of credit for the history-making campaign of President-elect Barack Obama, and not just because of the 54 percent to 44 percent margin of victory for Obama Tuesday within the state.
It started back in January, when Iowa stunned the nation by giving Obama a victory in the Iowa caucuses.
In addition to Obama’s win in the caucuses, Hillary Clinton finished a disappointing third place, behind John Edwards. That showing went a long way in taking the “ability” out of the “inevitability” of the Clinton campaign.
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Cumming who was re-elected Tuesday, touched on the history-making victory by Obama — and Iowa’s part in it.
“Iowa launched Barack Obama on his winning journey, and today Iowa was proud to be part of the great wave of change that swept him into the White House,” Harkin said. “I can’t wait to get back to work to help President Obama get America back on track.”
Leading up to the campaign trail, out-of-state critics had taken plenty of shots at Iowa for holding the pole position in the caucus and primary schedule. For that matter, plenty of people within Iowa’s borders had questioned the state’s stranglehold on the first major event of the political season.
One of those criticisms had been low participation rates in previous caucuses. But some of the most brutal and insulting criticisms focused on the demographics of the state populace, which detractors often said was not diverse enough to warrant such an important position.
When Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign in June, Dennis Goldford, a professor of politics at Drake University, said Iowa opened the door for Obama to win the nomination by proving that he could attract white voters.
“Prior to Iowa, most African American voters didn’t think white voters would by any measure support a black candidate,” Goldford said.
It’s impossible to tell if Obama would have won the nomination and the election had he finished second or third in the Iowa caucuses 10 months ago.
What we do know is Iowa voters dispelled a common notion that a lack of racial diversity automatically equates to a certain way of voting.
All Iowans who participated in the January caucuses and Tuesday’s election can take some pride in that.
I was thinking more along the lines of “idiots”.
Well, maybe not.
Jus’ keep dem ethanol bucks rolling in...
Although Iowa helped launch Obama, they put the first nail in the Clinton coffin.
Gotta take the good with the bad.
Obama and Harkin. A Marxist match made in the depths of Sheol.
At least now we know who to thank. /sarc
Iowans — I hope you are proud when Obama becomes the failure he is most likely destined to become!
Hope you love drinking Ethanol. LOL.
Don’t blame me. I was a Thompson supporter.
While I have a natural tendancy to defend the state I love, in this case I can't.
We sent Harkin back to DC, my only hope is that this is because it is a defense mechanism - get him the hell out of the state.
To many within my state are in fact, idiots. Blue for President, Harkin back, D Gov, state senate, house...
The only thing I can take pride in RE our representation is Grassley and King.
But, that's enough to make me try harder next time.
Western Iowa keeps sending Steve King to the House, so there is hope. King and Grassley give us hope. Keep hope alive.
No, he can fail, but he will be declared a success by tens of millions of the American people.
For months, my brother has been saying what this article claims. He also recalled having heard that Republican caucus voters got discouraged, tired, and bored (many were elderly) and went home early without leaving an impact on the process. Nobody even remembers who won the IA cauci any more. Was it Huckabee? Remember too that far more IA Democrats turned out than Republicans. That was true in virtually every state. IA also may have been wanting to slap GWB in the face.
Yea, Herbert Hoover wouldn’t recognize his native IA any more.
Ronald Reagan wouldn’t recognize his Republican Party either.
The Des Moines Register is a lot to overcome, but if Iowa goes first again I’m betting a big “change we can believe in,” will happen.
Where’s the BARF alert???? Was totally unprepared for the gagging...
Sorry...I did an internet search to try to find any articles that came up that actually acknowledged Iowa’s role in Obama’s win. I didn’t realize this was a red publication. I’m guessing my post won’t get posted. Just a reminder...sometimes you have to pick actual human intelligence over party...I’ve waited eight years to finally feel part of a nation that isn’t run by a complete moron. If you feel like you could sit and drink a beer with somebody, then you should probably also sense that they might not be the wisest choice as president of the U.S. Extremely intelligent people + beer = my family. However, I don’t feel any of my family members would actually qualify to be president, and they are MUCH, MUCH smarter than George Jr. Thankfully, we are not in that “stupid” situation again. Victory 2008!!!!
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