January 3rd is now Iowa 3rd.
The Republican Party of Iowa voted last night to hold their caucus on January 3rd, 2008. With Iowa on the 3rd and South Carolina on the 19th, two-thirds of the early state triumvirate is now set.
Iowa is an all important state because it will mark the beginning of the end of a number of candidates' campaigns. Many candidates, such as Sam Brownback and John Edwards, are banking their entire campaigns on it. As we all remember, it was the site of this infamous scene.
But how representative of the country is Iowa? As a largely rural, social conservative, farm state in Middle America; not very. However, it does represent of a portion of the Republican Party. And taken together with the rest of the triumvirate of South Carolina which represents the Southern and evangelical portions, and New Hampshire which has the libertarian and small government elements, they make up a pretty accurate picture of the Republican Party.
Not surprisingly, Rudy Giuliani, who doesn't embody any of those qualities has chosen to not compete in the state; nor has John McCain who's maverick streak doesn't sit well with the conservative party faithful. The latest poll out of Iowa has Mitt Romney, who has aired a barrage of commercials, in the lead followed closely by Fred Thompson.
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