Who cares about Iowa? Hasn’t the last 5 presidents all lose in the Iowa cacaus?
I looked it up...Obama won it in 2008. But that was the only candidate who won the first time around running.
Reagan, HW Bush, Clinton, GW Bush and Obama all won it in their second run, mostly because they were unappossed as sitting presidents.
Obama narrowly won the Iowa Dem caucus in 2008, a must win for him. GW Bush won the Iowa Straw Poll in 1999 and the Iowa Caucus in 2000. Clinton and the other Dems skipped Iowa in 1992 because Tom Harkin was running. Bob Dole beat GHW Bush in 1988, no surprise. The surprise was Pat Robertson placing second. GHW Bush very narrowly edged Reagan in 1980, although some claimed shady counting. Reagan replaced his campaign manager John Sears and was a stronger candidate as a result.
Why is Iowa important? Because the candidates make an effort to campaign here where personal campaigning is key. Iowa weeds out the losers more than it picks the winners.
Note that I am not endorsing Randy Paul by posting this article. I am just admiring his campaign skills, which other candidates could learn from.