Iowa primaries have different realities for the two parties.
Democrat: Barack Obama (37.6%), John Edwards (29.7%), Hilary Clinton (29.5%)
Republican: Mike Hukabee (34.3%), Mitt Romney (25.3%), Thomson (13.4%), John McCain (13.1%), Paul (10%), Rudy Giuliani (3.5%)
As you can see from the recent historical records, for Democrats the result has more significance, because the winner usually gets the final nomination. For the Republicans this is not the case, and in fact only about 50% the case. Mr Giuliani for example didn't bother to campaign in Iowa because he can afford not to win this electoral college.
DEMOCRATS:
2004: John Kerry* (38%), John Edwards (32%), Howard Dean (18%), Richard Gephardt (11%) and Dennis Kucinich (1%)
2000: Al Gore* (63%), Bill Bradley (37%)
1988: Dick Gephardt (31%), Paul Simon (27%), Michael Dukakis* (22%) and Bruce Babbitt (6%)
1984: Walter Mondale* (49%), Gary Hart (17%), George McGovern (10%), Alan Cranston (7%), John Glenn (4%), Reubin Askew (3%) and Jesse Jackson (2%)
1980: Jimmy Carter* (59%), Ted Kennedy (31%)
1976: "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%)
*Went on to win nomination
REPUBLICANS:
2000: George W. Bush* (41%), Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%) and Orrin Hatch (1%)
1996: Bob Dole* (26%), Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Maurice Taylor (1%)
1988: Bob Dole (37%), Pat Robertson (25%), George H.W. Bush* (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete Du Pont (7%)
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 (numbers not available)
*Went on to win nomination
Speaking as a non US citizen, I have heard of the two of the Democrats, but only one of the Republicans, and that has to be a little worrying, as it indicates a strong domestic policy bias in a world in which US foreign policy is vitally important.
With the US at war on several fronts (Iraq & Afghanistan etc); with the Iranian question not solved; when Pakistan is on the brink of a civil war; when Kenya is teetering on the edge; when the Middle East is unresolved and still creeping towards another bout of violence, it would be good to know the candidates views on these subjects.
I will be following the campaign with occasional updates, especially if it produces some surprises.
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