The 2008 Iowa
caucuses were the earliestAmerican Presidential caucuses
ever. 2008's caucuses were scheduled for January 3, 2008.
This presented a big problem for the campaigns; getting
voter attention during the holidays.
The run-up to the 2008
caucuses featured a near dead heat between the top three
Democrats: Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. The Republican
field was very fluid, with polls showing new numbers and
new leaders seemingly week to week.
Democrats:
Candidates
in the January 3, 2008 Iowa Caucuses:
Senator
Barack Obama--38%--The
winner
Former Senator John
Edwards--29%--Still alive as the campaign heads for
New Hampshire
Senator
Hillary Clinton--29%--Huge
defeat for Hillary as she entered Iowa the clear
front-runner, and is now in 3rd place. She can still
pick it up in New Hampshire and hopes the Clinton
magic can transform her into a new "Comeback Kid,"
like another Clinton did sixteen years ago.
Governor Bill
Richardson--2%
Senator
Joseph Biden--1%
Uncommitted--Less than
1%
Senator Christopher
Dodd--Less than 1%
Former Senator Mike
Gravel--Less than 1%
Representative
Dennis Kucinich--Less
than 1%
Republicans:
Candidates
in the January 3, 2008 Iowa Caucuses:
Mike
Huckabee--34%--The winner. Helped by the Evangelical
turnout, and by Chuck Norris standing over his
shoulder.
Mitt
Romney--25%--Even
though he took second place, he far outspent Huckabee,
and losing by nine percentage points represents a big
fall. May do better in New Hampshire.
Fred
Thompson--13%--Not bad considering he entered the race
late.
John McCain--13%--Not
a bad considering he did not really run in Iowa and
devoted his resources to New Hampshire. Must win next
week in the Granite State to survive.
Ron Paul--10%--May do
well in libertarian-minded New Hampshire.
Rudy
Giuliani--4%--Did
not run in Iowa. Competing in Iowa and then losing
badly would have hurt him more than not
competing
Duncan
Hunter--1%--Irrelevant before, much more irrelevant
now.
Tom
Tancredo--Dropped out of the race on October 28,
2007. He endorsed Mitt Romney
