Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
As you can tell I am not a Politition	jerogers	01/09/04
I am not a good politition yet I guess, will someone please tell me why Iowa and New Hampshire are so important? Why not California and Texas maybe? They say only 63,000 of million's are the only ones that vote in Iowa anyhow. There has got to be something I dont know about. THANK YOU Jackie
Answered By		Answered On
elgin_republicans		01/09/04
They're first - simple as that. Iowa is the first caucus (a type of selection process of delegates),which shows how much strength a candidate's ORGANIZATION has. A caucus tests organizational structure, since you have to get all of your supporters out on one day at one certain time, in one certain place. New Hampshire is the first "media" Primary. There a candidate's "mass" appeal is shown (even though the "mass" in New Hampshire is barely the same as one Ward in Chicago). If a candidate does not do fairly well in one of the first two, there is no time to gain "momentum" (also defined as dollars), since the Primaries are so "front-loaded" this election cycle (they mostly take place early in the year). People want to be with a winner. They don't back candidates who come in 3rd or 4th. If Edwards or Clark can't give a respectable showing in Iowa or New Hampshire, they may not be able to make it to the Southern & Western states, where they're expected to do better.

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