NPR: Meet the Iowa Voters

Meet the Iowa Voters

An Iowa crowd listens to Republican presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Talk About It:
Detroit Free Press: Meet the People Who Will Be First to Choose -- "Michigan Democrats, Sen. Carl Levin chief among them, have long decried the status Iowa and New Hampshire share being first, and, in several of the crowds, the complaints about a lack of diversity have been dead on. Practically the entire crowd is white, and most attendees are middle age or older."

What do you think about Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus?

Nation:
L.A. Times: Obama Catches Clinton in N.H.; Iowa a 3-Way Contest

Seattle P.I.: Housing Group Continues Mission of Black Developer

World:
Reuters: Foreign Observers Praise Kenyan Election

Arts & Culture:
New York Times: Chris Rock Hard at Work on New Year's Eve

New York Times: Jacob Lawrence: Visions of a People in Motion

Op-Ed:
Sporting News: Black Coaches Overlooked in College Football

Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Election 2008

11:46 AM ET | 12-28-2007 | permalink

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I imagine I could find an answer on Wikipedia, but why is Iowa the first primary state? It's not as if it reflects the country culturally, religiously or socioeconomically. The whole electoral process in this country is a mess.

Sent by Don Scott | 3:12 PM ET | 12-28-2007

While I take a deep breath about the IOWA Caucus status - to win the US Presidency you have to be able to win the election. I planted firmly for change behind Barack Obama, and the audience is what it is. Change has to impact us all - because the issues pressing our nation are more about socioeconomics than diversity. Those that have, have a lot. There's much more work to be done, however, for those that make up every other category.

Sent by Aimee A. Laramore | 2:36 PM ET | 12-29-2007

http://www.politicalseason.blogspot.com
Michigan pols griping about Iowas first place position as the opening salvo of presidential campaigns is unsurprising. Detroit is so steeped in the politics of race, its difficult for them to see much outside that prism. There is some validity to the complaint that Iowa ought not to be such an important factor in the selection of the nominee,that there is not much diversity in the caucus process. Bearing in mind as well that it is quite a small minority of Iowa voters who actually caucus, one can certainly argue that its a really bad way to pick a nominee. But keep it in perspective. The state is not of particular consequence when either party has a largely unopposed front runner or an incumbent. In the context of Obama's historic run, he has to be able to command the votes of Americans of every stripe. Far from being an unfair historical political relic, I expect Iowa will be yet another proof of his bona fides to be the next President of the United States.

Sent by Aaron Laramore | 2:56 PM ET | 12-29-2007

We should do away with the current primary system. All registered members of any political party should choose their preferred candidate on the same day. If no candidate has a 50 percent majority, let the delegates decide at the party convention.

Sent by Toni C | 8:24 PM ET | 12-30-2007

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