Roger Simon's examination of Hillary Clinton's defeat by Barack Obama in last spring's primaries is fascinating.
The Obama campaign, for example, was very well-organized.
Did you know that, by October 2007, still 3 months before the Iowa caucuses, one of Obama's managers found that there was one Iowan the campaign had contacted no fewer than 103 times???
Jimmy Carter in 1976 made Iowa what it has become. Carter was an unknown when he announced for president. No one gave him the slightest chance. But Carter practically lived in Iowa for two years, and in January '76 he got more votes than any other actual Democratic candidate in the Iowa caucuses. This gave Carter free media attention and the boost he needed to become a serious candidate; and eventually he became the nominee of his party. This is why Iowa has been huge ever since; candidates dream of grabbing the momentum Iowa will give them. And guess what--that won't change anytime soon. Look at Barack Obama--had he not won Iowa, I doubt he would be the nominee today. But he did. The next time there's a contest, the candidates will go after that Iowa momentum again.
