Let’s see....in 2008 these were the GOP candidates and how they did....how much did this play in the election itself?
2008 - Mike Huckabee (34%), Mitt Romney (25%), Fred Thompson (13%), John McCain (13%), Ron Paul (10%), Rudy Giuliani (4%), and Duncan Hunter (1%)
Seems to me that the top 3 didn’t get the nomination...so...just how important is this Iowa vote in the overall scheme of things?....and Fred thompson I don’t believe had declared....I don’t remember...seems he declared after the Iowa vote....
Not very, and I live in Iowa. Especially on the GOP side. If I were Sarah, June would be about right I think.
Romney spent all that time, energy, and money can barely got more than half the votes two guys who entered the fray "late" with no real organization pulled off (these two "outsiders" managed a near majority - 47% - of all votes in a crowded field).
I think all of this early attention to who's running, who's not, and what their "networks" and "organization" are is a bit overblown. Yes, that type of thing helps, but it is no guarantee of success nor is a lack of it at this point fatal to anyone's aspirations.
And honestly, Iowa and New Hampshire may be early "tests", but South Carolina and Florida are more important in the grand scheme of things, because they are larger states and show how well candidates play in solid GOP territory (SC) and a key "swing state" (FL).
Yep, Iowa is not that important. It’s real function is providing fodder for the media.