Do we all agree that whoever wins Iowa will get a substantial boost?

[cali]

If Clinton wins it'll add to her frontrunner status. If Obama wins it'll put him on near equal footing with Clinton going into NH. If Edwards wins, it'll reestablish him as a viable contender. Can anyone else benefit in Iowa? I would say Dennis, but he's kept such a low profile there, it's difficult to see Caucus voters organizing for him. I don't see anyone dropping out after Iowa, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some drop outs after NH.

[JohnnyBoots]

1. I think Biden will get a big lift. I feel his substance and style

will play well there.

[bdamomma]

2. that wouldn't be a bad thing either, but too soon to predict.

[Frustratedlady]

6. I agree! I hear a lot of talk about Biden.

If this Pakistan problem persists...especially without a viable solution from Bush/Condi, I think Iowans will look toward Biden...not with the idea that it will still be a problem when November comes around, but because they are concerned that the other candidates don't have enough foreign conflict experience to negotiate a resolution to the problem, AND someone is going to have to run triple time to repair our image in the world as soon as they are sworn in. Obama might be able to charm them into giving us another chance and in working toward reconciliation in the Middle East, but I think he is too young to be taken seriously. For foreign affairs, Biden looks to be the best choice to me.

Go, Joe!

[youthere]

13. Even a second or third for Biden would give his campaign an incredible boost.

given that nationally he's polling so low right now (which just isn't right).

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. If Clinton Wins It Over... If Edwards Loses It's Over For Him..

If Obama wins IA he conceivably wins NH and possibly SC...Then Obama and Clinton will fight it out primary by primary like Gary Hart and Walter Mondale who I believe fought all the way though June and it was the super delegates who finally put Mondale over the top...

[jaysunb]

4. I think you've got it just about right.

BTW, Donna Rice did Hart in, or however you want to frame it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Donna Rice Was In 88

If not for Donna Rice I believe Gary Hart would have been president...

[jaysunb]

10. oops...your right again

on both counts.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. I Was Devestated

I was a huge supporter of his...

[jaysunb]

12. It was one more in a long list of disappointments for me

starting with Kennedy & McCarthy in 68. <sigh>

[Steely_Dan]

5. I agree...

...I've got a funny feeling about Biden. I wouldn't be surprised to see him move towards the top tier candidates.

[JohnnyBoots]

8. I'd be happy if he did. I really think he would be good. Great on

the foreign stuff, but he is no slouch domestically either.

[bunnies]

9. Yep. But I personally hope nobody drops out after NH.

With only a few weeks until Feb 5... why not keep fighting?

[ooga booga]

14. Winning Iowa is big, but it doesn't lock it down

I just remember 2004. Wes Clark was late and not able to set up in Iowa, so he decided to skip it. Turned out to be his undoing. Howard Dean, on the other hand, put legions of campaigners out in Iowa for his "perfect storm." He campaigned like crazy, but couldn't sell himself to Iowans, so it was thebeginning of his descent. Kerry exceeded expectations and started to be dominant in Iowa.

So, yeah, whoever wins in Iowa is already a couple of laps ahead of the competition.

By the way, Guiliani's manager is an idiot if he really thinks that Rudy can lose the first three contests and still capture the GOP nomination. I think he's trying to hold down expectations.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. If any of the lower tier candidates were to finish in the top three it would give them a boost

[AtomicKitten]

16. I have a feeling the 3 front-runners will be punching it out for several states

before a clear winner is identified.