Why did McCain do so badly in Iowa?

[ButterflyBlood]

http://uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/PRIMARY/PE2000/primR2000IA.html

He won New Hampshire, but was beat by even Gary Bauer in Iowa, and didn't win a single county.

[election_2004]

1. basically because...

He skipped the Iowa Caucuses, and didn't bother to campaign there.

That caused him to get very few delegates from Iowa, but he was able to whoop Bush in New Hampshire because he spent so much time campaigning in NH.

[Ponderer]

2. He didn't campaign

He focused his resources on NH.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. But the Reason He Skipped Iowa

Was because his opposition to ethanol and other pork-barrel subsidies of that nature made him very unpopular in Iowa, an ethanol state.

DTH

[ButterflyBlood]

4. ah that's why

it wouldn't make sense otherwise, since Iowa has more delegates than NH

[Tanketra]

7. More delegates, sure ...

... but not more exposure.

It's sort of what I'd have to think would be the "ouch" scenario for Dean -- solid but not particularly close second to Gephardt in Iowa, and solid but not particularly close second to Kerry in NH. Overall, you've done better than anybody, but you don't get the delegates or the pictures with your fists in the air to show for it.

McCain needed to beat Bush in NH far more than he needed to finish anywhere near strong in IA.

[bluestateguy]

5. 3 reasons

1) Iowa is for the establishment candidates, which McCain was not.

2) He did not campaign there.

3) He opposed ethanol subsidies, a major no-no in the Iowa caucus, for both parties.

[SoCalDem]

6. He's been divorced, has a black adopted daughter

and the Bush gang demonized him..That's pretty much it..