Iowa Caucus

From Conservapedia

The Iowa Caucus is the first major official primary contest in the nation for both Democrat and Republican presidential primary candidates. It has served as an early indicator of primary candidates strength since its first took the national spotlight in 1972.

Contents 1 History 2 2008 Iowa Caucuses 2.1 Democrats 2.2 Republicans 3 Winners 3.1 Democrats 3.2 Republicans 4 Also See 5 References

History

Although the Iowa Caucuses are more then a century old, it was not seen as a significant means of predicting the outcome of both the Republican and Democratic nominations until the early 1970's. George McGovern's success in wining the Democratic Party nomination in 1972, and later in 1976, Jimmy Carter's nomination after winning the Iowa Caucus gave credibility to the contest.

Contrary to the Democrats, the Republicans paid little attention the Iowa caucus until 1976 when Gerald Ford beat Ronald Reagan in a straw poll held at the caucuses by a narrow margin, leading to Reagan's loss in the presidential primary nomination.

The significance of the Iowa Caucus has varied. In 1992, Iowa Senator Tom Harkins ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. Because of Harkins's popularity in Iowa, none of the Democratic candidates choose to compete in the state. United States Senator John Kerry won the Democratic Iowa caucus and later the nomination for the parties presidential candidate. North Carolina Senator John Edwards came in a close second, and later joined the Kerry campaign as vice presidential candidate.

2008 Iowa Caucuses

The 2008 Iowa Caucuses were originally to be held on Monday, January 14, 2008. But they were rescheduled to January 3, 2008.^[1]

Democrats

Current presidential primary contestants shows the three top tier candidates, New York senator Hillary Clinton, North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Illinois Senator Barack Obama at a close race in Iowa polls. According to a ABC-Washington Post poll, Obama stands in first place with support of 27% of likely voters, Clinton and Edwards are tied at 26%^[2]. In 2004, Edwards took second place at the Iowa and has since remained consistently popular among Democrats in the state. Former New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson, is the only other candidate to reach double digits with 11%^[3]. A NewsMax/Zogby Iowa Democratic poll in late August 2007, put Clinton in first place, with 30 percent, among likely Iowa Democratic caucus-goers^[4].Edwards received 23 percent support, while Obama received 19 percent^[5]..

Republicans

The Republican Iowa Caucus has been closely tied with a non-official primary event, the Iowa Straw Poll. Former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney had held a consistent lead, although the race remained very close to the end.

Date	1st	2ed	3ed	4th	5th
October 17th 2007[6]	Mitt Romney 26%	Fred Thompson 19%	Mike Huckabee 18%	Rudy Giuliani 13%	John McCain 6%
October 1-3[7]	Mitt Romney 29%	Fred Thompson 16%	Mike Huckabee 12%	Rudy Giuliani 11%	John McCain 7%

Winners

Democrats

• 2008^[8]- Barack Obama (38%) defeats John Edwards (30%), Hillary Clinton (30%), Bill Richardson (2%), Joe Biden (0.9%), Chris Dodd (0.02%)
• 2004^[9]- John Kerry (26%) defeats John Edwards (23%), Howard Dean (20%), Dick Gephardt (18%), Dennis Kucinich (3%)
• 2000^[10]- Al Gore (63%) defeats Bill Bradley (35%)
• 1996- Bill Clinton wins unopposed
• 1992 - Tom Harkin (76%) defeats Paul Tsongas (4%), Bill Clinton* (3%), Bob Kerrey (2%) and Jerry Brown (2%)
• 1988 - Dick Gephardt defeats (31%) Paul Simon (27%), Michael Dukakis* (22%) and Bruce Babbitt (6%)
• 1980- Jimmy Carter (59%) defeats Ted Kennedy (31%)
• 1976^[11] - "Uncommitted" (37%) Jimmy Carter* (28%) Birch Bayh (13%), Fred R. Harris (10%), Morris Udall (6%), Sargent Shriver (3%) and Henry Jackson (1%)
• 1972 - Edmund Muskie (36%) George McGovern (23%), Hubert Humphrey* (2%), Eugene McCarthy (1%), Shirley Chisholm (1%) and Henry Jackson (1%)

Republicans

• 2008^[12]- Mike Huckabee (34%) defeats Mitt Romney (25%), Fred Thompson (13%), John McCain (13%), Ron Paul (10%), Rudy Giuliani (3%), Duncan Hunter (0%)
• 2004- George W. Bush wins unopposed
• 2000^[13]- George W. Bush ( 40.99%) defeats Steve Forbes (30.50% ), Alan Keyes (14.24%), Gary Bauer (8.53%), and John McCain (4.67%)
• 1996- Bob Dole (26%) defeats Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Maurice Taylor (1%)
• 1992'- George H. W. Bush wins unopposed.
• 1988- Bob Dole (37%) defeats Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush* (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete DuPont (7%)
• 1984- Ronald Reagan* (unopposed)
• 1980- George H. W. Bush (32%) Ronald Reagan* (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%) and Bob Dole (2%)
• 1976- Gerald Ford* defeats Ronald Reagan

*Went on to win party nomination

Also See

• Iowa Straw Poll
• 2008 Presidential Election

References

1. ↑ http://www.iowacaucus.org/iacaucus.html
2. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080202621.html?hpid=topnews
3. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080202621.html?hpid=topnews
4. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5505.html
5. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5505.html
6. ↑ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/republican_iowa_caucus
7. ↑ http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=iowapoll07
8. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=caucus
9. ↑ http://miva.dmregister.com/miva/cgi-bin/miva?extras/iowapoll/poll.mv+file=prez0401
10. ↑ http://www.thegreenpapers.com/PCC/IA-D.html
11. ↑ http://www.theiowacaucus.com/Iowa-caucus-history-results.php
12. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=caucus
13. ↑ http://www.gwu.edu/~action/chrniowa.html