Iowa Caucus Results: My Predictions

The Iowa Caucuses are happening today and the United States watches as the Heartland state helps our nation make a major decision: who will be our next president? Here are my predictions of the Iowa caucus results. Candidates in the Republican field include Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Ron Paul, Fred Thompson. Democratic contenders are Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and Joe Biden.

Democratic Iowa Caucus Results Predictions

Predicted Winner: John Edwards

John Edwards will prove to be Iowans' choice tonight, taking 32%. Though Pollster has him placing second or third in recent polls, he is running tight with Clinton and Obama and could do well, especially if young voters do not come out for Obama in the caucuses. Edwards proves to be Iowans favorite pick because he is an electable figure who brings the sort of "change" Iowans have been saying they are looking for in a presidential candidate. While Obama (22%) may embody youth, energy, and the promise of change, he has the burden of relatively little political experience, and there is also the subtext of his personal background, which may not bode well for him in a national election, where Obama's race and religious background may hinder him in certain states.

On the other hand, Clinton (26%), who has now spent years in the Senate, presents political experience. She also has another element riding along with her: her husband, former president Bill Clinton (who could become our nation's first "First Gentleman"). However, it is in her very name and her husband that problems persist for some: do up to 28 years of Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton presidencies represent the sort of "change" Iowans want?

Perhaps not. And with Biden (12%) and Richardson (8%) appealing to some Iowans but not doing well in the polls, the nomination will end up going to Edwards, a populist-style candidate who has years of political experience, widespread appeal, and promises to change economic and social policies that help the poor and middle-class Americans and the uninsured-all points many Democrats support.