Obama Wins Iowa, Clinton Gets Third; Huckabee Wins Republican Caucus

That just happened! Senator Barack Obama won the Democratic Iowa Caucus with at least 37% of the vote (projections are changing). Former Senator John Edwards got 30% of the vote while Senator Hillary Clinton got 29%. The media is playing this as a huge failure for the Senator from New York, given how powerful the Clinton machine has seemed. Also stunning: There were 82% more Democratic voters in this year's caucus compared with 2004, which pundits suggest means Iowa, which President Bush won in 2004, is certainly in play for the Democrats.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckbee handily won the Republican caucus, with 34% of the vote. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who outspent Huckabee by tens of millions, conceded with 25%; Senator John McCain and former Senator (and Law & Order DA) Fred Thompson tied for third place with 13%. (Former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who didn't focus much attention in Iowa, got 4% - after Ron Paul's 10%!) During his victory speech, Huckabee said he wasn't sure if he could love a state as much as he loved his home state of Arkansas, but tonight, "I love Iowa a whole lot." Politics aside, his public speaking is great and he's very engaging. It also seems that voters responded to Huckabee's attacks on Romney's relatively excessive spending and were repelled by Romney's negative ads.

During her concession speech, Clinton thanked the crowd and acknowledged it was a great night for Democrats, given the turnout, and emphasized that it showed the desire for a Democratic president. She then said she's ready for New Hampshire. And seen on the dais, besides former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former President Bill Clinton: NY Lieutenant Governor David Patterson.

According to NBC polls, 57% of the voters were women - and Obama got most of the female vote (35% to Clinton's 30%). Tom Brokaw said that when he spoke to female voters in Iowa, many said they weren't sure Hillary could win and they wanted (a Democrat) to win. He added that it's unclear if she'll be able to be a Comeback Kid like her husband, who lost Iowa but went onto get second at New Hampshire and the presidency in 1992. Another interesting note: 60% of voters under 25 voted for Obama; 45% of voters over 65 voted Clinton. And of the Democratic voters who said they wanted changed, 50% voted for Obama.

During Obama's victory speech, he told his audience, "You have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days. You have done what America can do in this new year, 2008. In lines that stretched around schools and churches... Republicans and Democrats...you have said we are one nation, we are one people, and our time for change has come." He also promised to end the war in Iraq and bring home the troops and said, "9/11 is not a way to scare up votes, but a challenge that should unite America and the world against the common threats of the 21st century."

What these results mean so far in terms of the election: For the Republicans, Huckabee gets at least 22 delegates (who will then nominate a candidate at the Republican Convention), with 15 to be allocated. On the Democratic side, Obama gets 13 delegates, Clinton and Edwards get 10 each, and 10 still need to be allocated. Here's an FAQ on the Iowa caucuses.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 3, 2008 10:52 PM

Comments [rss]

rubyredhead

babyhitler = lowclass

eyekantspel

the term caucus was first used to confuse those too dumb to use google

babyhitler

can someone explain what a caucus is besides that is sounds like Cock and ass together? What's the difference between that and a primary?

JacqueMehoff

don't forget the hands that went up when the candidates were asked if they believed in Creationism.

Mike D

There are doctors who preform abortions AND deliver babies. It's not an either/or thing.

Mike D

EastRiver: I'm glad to see you're willing to sacrifice 51% of the population's rights to choose a candidate who MIGHT, just MIGHT be a good leader.

There are candidates who are pro-choice and also might be good leaders, so luckily I don't have to choose solely based on abortion politics.

gossipgirl

Well then how did Huckabee fool Iowa?

matty

Iowa is not as hick as you all think it is. In fact most of the upper midwest is rather progressive and liberal. Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota are all consistently Democratic and have some of the most progressive politics in the nation. Barack Obama is representative of this fact.

gossipgirl

I'm sorry, I mean to say he DELIVERED BABIES.

EastRiver

No offense Mike but if you're going to make your Presidential vote decision based on abortion when we live in a world of terrorism, spiraling trade deficits, a broken health care system, unfunded liabilities in the form of Social Security and Medicare, etc. then frankly I would just prefer it if you didn't vote. When the city is in flames from food riots and the dollar will buy one Euro cent you can congratulate yourself that abortion is still legal. Wooh!

Politburo

"Mike D: I know he's pro-life (he was after all an OB-GYN)."

Huh? Many OB-GYNs are pro-choice.. who do you think is performing the procedures?

HR 300 is a dismantling of the equal protection clause. Have you read it?

"The Supreme Court of the United States and each Federal court shall not adjudicate any claim involving the laws, regulations, or policies of any State or unit of local government relating to the free exercise or establishment of religion; any claim based upon the right of privacy, including any such claim related to any issue of sexual practices, orientation, or reproduction; or any claim based upon equal protection of the laws to the extent such claim is based upon the right to marry without regard to sex or sexual orientation."

States rights is just another code word for legal discrimination.

Mike D

I guess I'm just uncomfortable with someone who is ostensibly for "small government" regulating morality.

gossipgirl

Huckabee is a fright for sure! But I don't think he has staying momentum. No money, no organization, and no foreign policy advisor.

Really, what I can't believe is how the press claims that last night's victory for Obama and Huckabee represents that America wants a change. Huckabee, a change?!

Mike D: I know he's pro-life (he was after all an OB-GYN). But he's also a libertarin which typically means whether you are pro-life or pro-choice you believe in states rights. From his web-site:

I am also the prime sponsor of HR 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn.

Mike D

I'm not sure how to feel: I'm happy for Clinton's loss but terrified of Huckabee's win. I really hope Obama can win it.

Mike D

Gossipgirl:

I'm not sure how you feel about this but I just learned Ron Paul was extremely pro-life. My conceptual support for him just turned into active distaste.

SimonLok

i love how the media and people jump to all these conclusions of how these candidates will do in a general election based on literally a few thousand votes by mostly activist voters who partake in primaries. its laughable to imply these results would look anything like a national result.

gossipgirl

Ron Paul is genuine. He's a politician, but he is in it to bring about change and enforce the constitution and give people back their rights.

Toby von Meistersinger

The biggest problem with the field of candidates is that you wouldn't want them to be dog catcher of East Bumblefuck, Flyover Country let alone President of the United States.

Watching Obama on TV last night, it seemed if he was doing a JFK impression. It came off as phony.

We need someone who isn't a politician to become president (and for that matter in every elected office) - Wesley Autrey, David Letterman, anyone!