Obama Makes History in Iowa

No African-American candidate for the nomination of his party has ever one a single state caucus or primary. The closest, Reverend Jesse Jackson, came in 5^th in 1988 with 2% of the vote. Barack Obama changed that in Iowa last week. What does that mean? Well, it means one down quite a few to go. I am now a full-fledged Obama supporter. I assure you, I wasn't easily swayed. It was a long road from the Sports Oasis Cafe at Camp Victory, Iraq where I first heard Barack Obama. The 1^st term senator from Illinois was delivering a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I remember waiting to order breakfast and thinking, "Who is this Guy?", "He's going to be a star in the party someday." I had no idea then how quickly someday would come.

Obama's Iowa win is significant not only because he is Africa-American. It is significant because he offers what Iowans (and possibly the rest of America) wants-change. However, make no mistake, the fact that he is African-American is a huge part of why the win in Iowa is significant. It is also why remaining candidates should be worried. Iowa's population is 92% white and 38% of Iowans live in rural areas. These were not left-wing big city liberals casting a vote in an attempt to shed a little white guilt. Iowans viewed Obama as a serious candidate and an alternative to politics as usual in Washington. Iowans voted for change, for something different, something fresh. Obama's ability to capture this demographic (white and rural) had an immediate effect on the democratic race-not the least of which-- the exit of Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Biden.

Senator Dodd, who moved his family to Iowa and campaigned over the holidays, is a popular senator from Connecticut. He also speaks fluid Spanish, which was to give him the ability to compete with former New Mexico Government Bill Richardson for the increasingly important Hispanic vote. Biden is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable politicians in the beltway on foreign policy and constitutional law. Yet, neither Dodd nor Biden captured more 2% of the vote in Iowa.