A great answer for those who say, "Why should Iowa go first?"

[Cairycat]

From the NYT article, "The Pundit-Defying Idiosyncrasies of Iowa Voters" (also worth a read if you get past the pay wall) this comment:

I am learning quite a bit by reading the comments here. Most glaring is the notion that people in Iowa do not share the concerns and viewpoints of the nation as a whole.

I know that Iowans get cancer, go bankrupt trying to pay medical bills, are buried in student loan debt, serve proudly in uniform, work hard but have trouble keeping up, are already affected by climate change, are already suffering as a consequence of an ill-conceived trade war.

I'm just surprised that the rest of the country is not at all burdened by those concerns.

Keep in mind too that, without the Iowa Caucus, Barack Obama would not have been president (yet). With 3% in polls going into campaign season, he would have never mustered enough support to win a one-day national primary. It was only after Mr. Obama convinced Iowans of his sincerity, intelligence, and energy that other states like South Carolina believed sufficiently that, in fact, Yes We Can (win).

So we'll again do the best we can. You're free to heed or ignore the outcome.

https://nyti.ms/2Me6dJj#permid=101977549

[BeyondGeography]

1. I'm a big fan, they make candidates work for it

They make up their minds late and in return they get to see pretty much all a candidate has to offer. And their judgments have been very sound. Not just with Obama but even when they go with the front runner/safe choice the others get a fair hearing and usually leave Iowa with something to work with.

[still_one]

3. I have no issue with Iowa going first. I have a problem with it being a caucus

Last edited Tue Aug 13, 2019, 08:29 AM - Edit history (2)

[sagesnow]

5. I double dang agree.

I'm from the Hawkeye State and HATE the 4 hour ordeal that is Caucus night. I want to go in vote for my first and second choice and Get Out. Instead of a quick trip to the voting booth, I am locked in a room full of a few hundred of other voters. If my candidate is ahead, my am expected to select someone to give a rally speech to get other caucus goers to come over to my candidate. If my candidate is behind, I'm supposed to select someone to give rally speech to get other caucus goers to come over to my candidate. You have to sit through those off the cuff rally speeches and some mystical mathematical calculations that make Trig class seem like a breeze. It is a real Pain in the Electoral Process. I just want to vote, d@^^1t!

[progressoid]

6. A lot of Iowans agree.

It's slowly changing.

Slowly.

[still_one]

9. +++

[Bettie]

11. I wish we had a primary

but that will change, eventually, at least I hope so.

[still_one]

12. +++

[FM123]

4. Good article.

By the way, your post was #1234 - I don't know what that means, but maybe something lucky

[kenisgod1]

7. A typical Trump supporter at the Iowa State Fair.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=emDamrkwvPU

[The Polack MSgt]

8. He seems triggered

Welcome to DU kenisgod1

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Here you go and welcome to DU:

[JPPaverage]

14. I'm old and white as well

And I've never once voted Republican. And especially not now. See, I love this country and my state(no not the state of confusion) so I will likely never vote anyone other than Democrats.

[Bettie]

13. There are other good reasons for Iowa to be first

A less expensive media market makes various types of advertising more feasible on a small budget.

A smaller population means that a candidate can personally meet people in more intimate settings.

It is a place where an unknown candidate can get a foothold even with very little in the way of resources just by showing up in a lot of different places and talking to people.