She may have a lead among Democrats nationwide, but Hillary Clinton is trailing in polls in Iowa, which will hold the first caucus of the 2008 campaign:
DES MOINES, Jan. 26 — When New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives here for her first presidential campaign events this weekend, she will encounter unfamiliar terrain — a landscape where she is not the perceived front-runner for the Democratic nomination.
Although Clinton appears formidable at the national level, she has not built up a lead in Iowa, home of the first caucuses of the 2008 campaign next January. Most recent polls of Iowa Democrats have shown former senator John Edwards of North Carolina in the lead, with Clinton in a pack that includes Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack.
“This is anyone’s race to win, including obviously Governor Vilsack, who is very familiar with the landscape here,” said newly elected Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D), who met with Clinton shortly after she arrived Friday afternoon but who is remaining neutral. “That’s the wonderful thing about the caucus process. The winner will have to earn it.”
On both the Republican and Democratic sides, Iowa has historically been a state that has gone against the trend and backing someone other than the perceived from runner. Bob Dole won the 1988 Republican Caucus, but it was Pat Robertson coming in second ahead of Vice President Bush that was the story the next day. In 1992, Bill Clinton didn’t even contest Iowa seriously thanks to the candidacy of Tom Harkin. In 1996, Bob Dole won Iowa again but this time was overshadowed by the fact that Pat Buchanan nearly beat him. In 2000, a surprisingly strong showing from Steve Forbes turned into a brief challenge to the rise of George W. Bush. Finally, in 2004, Howard Dean’s third place finish behind runner-up John Edwards put a quick end to his campaign.
In the end, though, none of the stars that came out of Iowa ended up winning the nomination, even if they did go on to pose a challenge to the eventual nominee. That doesn’t mean that Clinton has nothing to worry about in Iowa, though. If she contests the state and loses to Edwards, for example, it will show Democrats skeptical about her campaign that she’s vulnerable, which may be all they need to see.
January 27th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
There is another female who is seen by the nation and in the state of Iowa as a possible contender for 2008; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She has worldwide relationships which will be an asset for the next administration; plus if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gets resolved by her then it is another asset for her.
There has been a debate during the past 2 years over who would be the Legacy Candidate, and the hardline Republicans who still stand with the President are more likely to see Condi Rice as a strong loyal member of his Cabinet rather than as some other Senator trying to undermine OUR President.
The website, http://www.thinkcondi.net, is defending Madame Secretary from attacks by Barbara Boxer, and Donald Trump.
We all saw the conservative talk hosts come forward as well to defend Condi’s public image.