Iowa speaks, and the field of candidates narrows
Iowa is an unlikely arbiter of the nation's taste in politicians.
It is only the 30th most populous state. It is far more agricultural than most (there are about three hogs for every person in the state). Only about 60,000 of the nation's 35 million black residents live in Iowa.
But no matter, Iowans have spoken. And what they said was heard loudly enough by one candidate, U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt of neighboring Missouri. He dropped out of the race. The results sent the early front-runner, Howard Dean, who ended up third, into a fist-pounding frenzy that required him to conduct his first day of campaigning in New Hampshire in quiet, measured tones.
It gave a boost to the two highest vote-getters in Iowa, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. And their strong showing put pressure on Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, both of whom passed up Iowa, to do well in New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, here we sit in Ohio, six weeks away from a primary election, while the likes of Iowa and New Hampshire decide that there are some candidates we won't even see.
On almost every level, it makes absolutely no sense.
First crack
But, someone has to be first, and no matter what state that is, the results of the early races are going to cause some candidates to rethink their strategies, even reconsider their viability.
The one thing that can be said for Iowa and New Hampshire is that they are small enough states that they require the voters to meet an extraordinarily high percentage of voters face-to-face. If a candidate can't get the people of Iowa or New Hampshire to trust them when they get up close and personal, there's probably reason for voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania to wonder.
A week from now, there could be one fewer candidate as the primaries move into a higher gear, but other states will get their say. And Ohio, six weeks down the road, may play a pivotal role.
All the major candidates are bright and accomplished, all have showed they can carry levels of responsibility far above that of ordinary citizens.
Yet there are differences in their approaches to policy and differences in personal qualities important to the job. Democratic primary voters have an important job to do in discerning the various candidates strengths and weaknesses and in avoiding being caught up in advertising blitzes.
The voters will pick a standard bearer who will help define the debate that will be carried out with President Bush and, win or lose, will help shape the future of this nation.
Iowa and New Hampshire may thin the ranks, but millions more will have their say before a candidate is chosen.