I was reading CNN’s compilation of thoughts from Michigan voters and also heard from a friend in the state this morning. I don’t think it is a surprise that the sentiment coming from Democrats there is not a pleasant one because in short, their voices were not heard. That isn’t to say they aren’t happy with Senator Clinton, all things being equal she might have won anyway, but because the state’s delegates will be denied from the convention and because their race was uncontested.
I have made no secret on this blog that I am not in favor of keeping Iowa and New Hampshire’s hold over either parties nomination process. This was a concoction that has only developed since the 1970’s and in short it is one that won’t last. When we look at the mainstream media’s desire to call the entire Democratic nomination after just the small state of Iowa’s caucus, you see the sheer stupidity of this system and how it can be mishandled.
“In the modern primary era, this is the first four-way split in Iowa and New Hampshire in the Republican and Democratic races. In other words, there is no precedent for what’s taken place in this election — not in the generation since Iowa and New Hampshire have mattered together. Since 1976, when there have been winners in all four states, there has never been four different candidates who have won these two states.”
13% of eligible Iowans under the age of 30 turned out an increase from 4% in 2004. Most interesting turned out not just for Senator Barack Obama but for Governor Mike Huckabee as well. (Remember in 2004 the Iowa Caucus was not held for Republicans as George W. Bush was the incumbent).
The turnout rate has historically been low in Iowa caucuses, but the youth turnout rate
was much higher tonight than in recent years. This result continues a trend observed in
other elections since 2000. In the 2006 congressional elections, the voter turnout rate
among 18-to-29-year-olds increased by three percentage points compared to the previous
congressional election of 2002. And in the 2004 presidential election, the national youth
voter turnout rate rose 9 percentage points compared to 2000, reaching 49 percent. In
2004, under-30-year olds were registered to vote at the highest rate in 30 years.
Not long ago Edwards and Obama pulled a 1-2 punch on Senator Hillary Clinton looking to knock her off the “front-runner” status. Now with a win in Iowa, newfound media attention, millions raised and the front-runner status on his back, Barack Obama is the new target.
Today John Edwards campaign manager David Bonior launched into the Illinois Senator charging that he was once a “sell-out for corporate interests” making the charge on MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough program.
“Barack Obama’s kind of change is where you sit down and you cut a deal with the corporate world,” Bonior said. “If you look at his record in Illinois when he had a major — sponsored a major health bill that’s what he did. He watered down with the help of the corporate lobbyist and they got a weak product out of that.”
“We can’t have false hopes. We’ve got to have a person who can walk into that Oval office on day one and start doing the hard work that it takes to deliver change,” she said.
Senator Joe Biden has ended his bid for the Democratic nomination after a poor showing in Iowa.
Statement:
“I am not going away. I’m returning to the Senate as the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and will continue to ensure that we protect the nation’s security and show our country that Democrats know how to keep America safe, keep our commitment to our troops and restore our country’s respect in the world.â€
The Politico is reporting that barring a surprise showing today in Iowa former Senator Fred Thompson will drop out and give his support to Senator John McCain.
Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.
Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.
CNN: Denied story about possibly dropping out, backing McCain. “I’ve never said that, I’ve never implied that, in public or in private.†Talked oil prices, CIA tapes. Repeated that having too much “personal ambition†is a danger for candidates.
Fox: Again denied story about dropping out, saying it was probably planted by rival campaign. “There is no such Thompson adviser. It is not something I have thought about or discussed with anybody.†Maintained he’s doing well in Iowa, said he didn’t get in the race late, others got in early. “We’ll see whether being in everyone’s face for two years and spending $100 million is necessary.â€
The Edwards campaign held a conference call tonight looking ahead to organizing for New Hampshire. I did not have the time to listen to the whole thing but I did think it was interesting to hear the campaign working on organizing out-of-state volunteers. It was also nice to hear a surprise visitors, Wallace Edwards who is John Edwards father, get on the line to welcome volunteers and thank them for their support.
After a year of all the candidates courting Iowa it is amazing to see it all wind down so quickly and see candidates already moving ahead. The candidate will be holding a rally at 6:15AM at Tower Mills in Manchester New Hampshire Friday, the morning after the Caucus.
When I called in there were 150 or so people they said were on the line. I typically skip listening to all of these conference calls for the campaigns because, honestly, they are a bit of a nightmare. Lots of confusion and technical problems and not much news come out of them.
As noted before Huckabee was on Meet the Press this morning. On the topic of Mitt Romney Huckabee says he believes the former Mass governor is running a “desperate and frankly dishonest campaign”.
What I find interesting is that Huckabee once again has come to the defense of John McCain saying the Senator is an “honest man” and “John McCain is a hero in this country and a hero to me”. Do I hear the potential for a McCain/Huckabee matchup or maybe even a Huckabee/McCain match-up for the Vice Presidency? The two both have what the other needs, McCain has the experience and national security cred, Huckabee has the evangelical and overall religious cred.