With the rush toward Christmas, some will forget the Iowa Caucus that is also fast approaching, and that’s okay. Why? Because It just doesn’t matter! It’s a glorified back room convention held in living rooms across the heartland! The last of the smoke-filled rooms so to speak.
How do I know it’s not important? All I should have to tell you is that twice in my lifetime “Uncommitted” has won the thing. That’s right in 1972 and 1976 Iowa Democrats chose “uncommitted” as their caucus winner. In 2008 Mike Huckabee won the GOP caucus, while Bob Dole won in 1988, and George Bush the elder defeated Ronald Reagan in 1980. Not one of those candidates went on to take their respective nominations.
The Democrats have their share of also-rans winning this thing. Dick Gephardt won in 88, and Tom Harkin won by a landslide in 92. Neither man was on the ticket that year. Why? Because it just doesn’t matter! Only because it is first does Iowa carry any weight in national politics.
Mitt Romney is trailing in most Iowa polls and I would imagine he doesn’t care a bit. Romney knows New Hampshire is much more important in the nominating process. Why? Because it’s an actual election! People really go to the polls and cast a ballot. Not like Iowa where they congregate in basements, living rooms, and diners to choose a candidate by acclimation. New Hampshire is the first true test of field operations and real campaign strategies. That’s why Mitt Romney has been concentrating on the Granite State. He knows that is his strength. He owns a home there and has been on the ground there virtually non-stop from day one of his campaign.
Iowa is famous for “flavor of the month” candidates. Witness Herman Cain, Michelle Bachman, Newt Gingrich and their ilk. All have shown surges and for varying reason fallen off in their numbers or withdrew completely. Romney knows slow and steady wins the race, and he’s doing a great job of keeping his numbers consistent, and not showing the peaks and valley of other candidates. He may lose Iowa, but in Mitt’s world–It Just Doesn’t Matter!