Definitely an upset for the predicted winners Clinton and Romney.
From Reuters:
Conversely only 90,00 Republicans turned out for the promaries. Is this a harbinger of GOP turnout in other primaries?
Obama and Huckabee win first 2008 voteDES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Barack Obama took a big step on Thursday toward becoming the first black U.S. president when his campaign for change caught fire in Iowa and swept him past Hillary Clinton in the opening Democratic nominating contest.
Republican underdog Mike Huckabee capped a stunning political rise to beat rival Mitt Romney in Iowa, despite being dramatically outspent by the wealthy former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist.
Obama, an Illinois senator, captured the first Democratic prize on the road to the White House with a comeback triumph over New York Sen. Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who were in a tight battle for second.
...
Turnout among Democrats topped 220,000, smashing the previous record of 124,000 in 2004 -- testament to the high enthusiasm among Democrats heading into November's election.
I seriously doubt that Huckabee can get enough momentum out of this to win NH however the post Iowa primary bump may position him to win in South Carolina. Obama on the other hand has to face Clinton's well oiled and funded NH machine as Clinton is seriously hedging her bet
by concentrating her resources on NH. I strongly believe that Obama has to win NH in order to guarantee a win in SC. If Clinton and Obama go into SC with only one win apiece Edwards home field advantage could snag him a win there effectively leaving the field wide open.
Whats surprising is that Clinton placed third. I guess there ain't no such thing as inevitable in Iowa.
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