Caffertyfile: 95% white Iowa keeps backing Obama

[DogPoundPup]

Seems like a long time ago. January 3, 2008. That night, in the dead of winter, the earth moved in Iowa.

In freezing temperatures, Iowans gathered all across the state for their caucuses. Nobody was looking for any big surprises. Hillary Clinton figured she’d win in a walk. She didn’t even bother to campaign there much. But a political unknown had worked his tail off in the Hawkeye state. And when the votes were counted, an improbable journey began.

Barack Obama was on his way, given a huge tailwind by a state that is 95% white. In fact, that night on CNN I remarked that “the only place whiter than Iowa is the North Pole.” And Iowans’ love for the man from Illinois has remained as rock solid as their principles.

Once again Iowa is at the forefront in this presidential campaign. In the latest CNN/Time Magazine/ Opinion Research Corporation poll out yesterday, Obama has surged to a commanding 15 point lead over John McCain. 55% Obama to 40% for John McCain. Iowa was rated a toss-up until yesterday, and with the way the electoral map is shaping up these new numbers are huge for Obama.

On CNN’s electoral map, both Iowa and Minnesota have now been changed from toss-up to leaning Obama, putting the most unlikely candidate for president in our nation’s history tantalizingly close to the magic electoral 270 votes needed for election. There are still eight weeks to go, but make no mistake. If Obama goes all the way, white people in Iowa will be a big part of the reason why.

Here’s my question to you: How important is it that Iowa, which is 95% white, remains firmly behind Barack Obama?
http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/04/95-white-iowa-keeps-backing-obama/

[gcomeau]

1. Love the general theme... but:

"Hillary Clinton figured she’d win in a walk. She didn’t even bother to campaign there much." --- Ummm, no. She didn't campaign because she thought Edwards had a lock on Iowa. Jack has to be careful to get his details right, errors like that undermine the wider point.

[izquierdista]

2. Because they took these signs down?

You're showing your age, Jack. People have moved on and you are stuck in the past.

[Hardrada]

4. Iowa never had those and was actually a Union state in the

Civil War!

[Critters2]

9. Every small town in the area where I grew up in Iowa could point to at least

one old house--sometimes churches, too--that were stops on the Underground Railroad. And the county where I served has a rest area on Interstate 35 with a walking path through some native prairie grasses. Along the path are stones with engravings from letters written by Civil War Union soldiers to their families in Wright County. Some are heartbreaking.

Nothing Confederate about Iowa.

[Skidmore]

3. Iowa is for Obama!!! You bet we are.

I'm so proud that my husband and I were able to caucus for this man. It was the right thing to do. He was the only candidate who made sense for our times.

[mzmolly]

5. Gee, that doesn't fit the media spin that "working class whites" don't back

Obama. :eyes:

[2004renew]

6. Iowa's candidate

I was born and raised in Iowa. I have lived here all my life
and would NOT want to live anywhere else. Yes, Iowa is behind
Barack and I believe the people that were supporting Clinton,
Edwards, Dodd or Biden are also fully behind Barack. Iowa will
be blue come November. I support Barack for 20 reasons: 17 of
the reasons are Grandchildren and 3 are Great-Grandchildren.

[Heather MC]

7. Awesome!

:hi:

[Critters2]

10. Welcome to DU, from another proud native Iowan!!

Where are you? I was born in Davenport. More recently, I lived in Eagle Grove. Iowa is my home!

[IndyOp]

12. Welcome to DU, 2004renew! (n/t)

[Gabi Hayes]

8. he's the only 'journalist' who's focusing on the reality of the situation

there's a thread here in which he tears both McCain and Palin up

everyone else is playing their role of GOP handmaiden quite well

[Cha]

11. Rec'd~ Could we please get this on the Front/Greatest Page

with all the sick palin news?

[Hardrada]

13. Kick!