It really is, but more so now than back in the "old days." (FWIW, people erroneously think that Iowa's "first in the nation caucus" goes back to 1846 or some such hoary date. It doesn't.)
That he got beat by an exceptional ground game in IA. . .
Which was maybe not so much a Ted Cruz ground game as the ground game of the existing evangelical power structure within the Iowa GOP, which is still formidable (though often at odds with the moneyed good old boy wing of the Iowa GOP).
If Ted had not been in the running, Huckabee and/or Santorum probably would have split most of his votes, but I'm not sure which of those two would have gotten endorsements from Vander Plaats, etc.
Mr. niteowl77
Speaking of Huck, has he endorsed anyone yet? I know Santorum is backing the Cuban child, but what about Huck? I think Huck will wait to see how things shake out between Cruz and Trump — who’ll be the frontrunner — the day after Super Tuesday. Then he’ll endorse that person. He really, really, really wants a position in anyone’s cabinet.
Excellent thoughts. Are you in IA? (I played in IA in my rock an roll days, in a stripper bar. That was fun).