Tough sell for Hillary in Iowa may swing nomination

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/27/whills27.xml

Forget the glitzy Hollywood fundraisers and the big-money donors in Manhattan. To win the White House, Senator Hillary Clinton needs to sit down in the diners of the frozen flatlands of Iowa and, over coffee and buttered pancakes, persuade folks that she understands them.

It will be a hard sell. But Iowa holds the first presidential caucuses, considered a crucial test of popularity, and she arrives here today. In a local poll this week, she was placed fourth for the Democratic nomination.

The breakfast crowd in the 1950s-style Drake Diner in Des Moines, where Mrs Clinton stopped for a chocolate malt three years ago on her last visit to the state, doubt that she can close the gap. There is a question over whether Mrs Clinton has the common touch. "She came in with the Secret Service and about six others," said Mrs Chladek. "She sat way inside the booth as kind of a protection manoeuvre, though she did visit people as she left."

Iowa, a farm state that produces much of America's corn and pork, is sparsely populated and has never elected a woman to Congress or as governor. "In politics, you have show horses and work horses," said Rick Schulenburg, 58, who, like many Iowans, looks at the candidates as if judging an agricultural contest. "Hillary is more of a show horse. She puts her finger in the wind, sees which way it's blowing and that's the position she takes."

[Crabby Appleton]

1. Iowa doesn't matter, her husband ignored Iwoa when he ran

iwoa and NHs only importance are for their publicity value, and she has all the press she needs.

[dsc]

3. Harkin was in the race in 92 and that is why Iowa was ignored

I have no idea why Vilsak wasn't as able to lock up Iowa as Harkin was.

[Missy M]

2. Total bunch of nonsense....

who wrote this piece? It's someone from the US and perhaps the people interviewed in Iowa should talk to us New Yorkers. She worked hard and talked to everyone, that's how she won. I am getting sick of people trying to portray Hillary the way this article does.

[zulchzulu]

4. The first few races are critical, not just Iowa

I don't think (at the moment) that she will do very well in Iowa. What's critical is the schedule leading up to Wisconsin. If she fares poorly up to that point, then the media will already have written her off.

January 14, 2008 - Iowa
January 19, 2008 - Nevada
January 22, 2008 - New Hampshire
January 29, 2008 - South Carolina
February 5, 2008 - Delaware, Missouri
February 12, 2008 - District of Columbia, Tennessee, Virginia
February 19, 2008 - Wisconsin

[T_i_B]

8. Nevada?

Now pardon me here, being the ignorant Brit that I am,

What's Nevada doing inbetween Iowa and NH in the schedule? Is it me or does the NH primary follow on from Iowa?

And if the Nevada primary is being moved moved inbetween the Iowa and NH primaries, what effect will it have?

[fujiyama]

9. NH has traditionally followed Iowa

but some states decided to move their primary earlier to have more influence. I think it's a good idea to get some more diverse states in the mix. NH and IA are quite homogeneous racially.

Ultimately, the only effect a primary in between will have is media buzz and publicity (other than offering another chance to gain some more delegates earlier on). If, say Edwards wins both IA and NV, the positive media coverage will make it more likely he will win NH. Usually things fall in place at a certain point, though certain candidates are often favored to win certain states due to their geographical proximity (like Edwards is likely to win the SC primaries due to being born there).

[L84TEA]

5. I get to meet her tonight!

I am very excited to hear what she has to say!

[Le Taz Hot]

6. I can't help myself

and I know its none of my business but I HAVE to ask: How much did that cost you?

[oasis]

7. Nevada/Iowa/ New Hampshire. There's a long way to go.nt