I don’t know about the rest of the political blogging community, but I’m a little “Iowa-ed” out. I thought the state was supposed to disappear shortly after the caucus results were announced, like it does every year. Let’s be honest, Iowa is kind-of the weird relative of states. “No, I’ll be back before the next four years. Honest.”
Donald Trump even said he’d visit the state soon, but it was hard to hear that part over the sound of his tires screeching out of Iowa. Although, his claim that he might “buy a farm” there would be a pretty damn good Green Acres-style reality show. I think it’s safe to say that none of the candidates will be spending any real time there in the near future, unless Trump opens “Trump–Des Moine, The Best Casino in Corn Country.”
But I’m just curious why so many candidates seem obsessed with whether they won Iowa or not. Rubio has enjoyed a great week by coming in third because he was expected to come in…uhhh…third. But by coming in a closer third he’s now the one to beat. Then Ted Cruz came in first when he was expected to come in first, but because Trump expected to be first there’s a shifting of their fortunes. Trump is even going so far as to say Ted cheated and demanding a recount of the results.
On the liberal side, Bernie Sanders is doing roughly the same thing. And his rabid, Ron Paul-like fan base has already cooked up conspiracies that Hillary “stole” Iowa. To his discredit, Sanders hasn’t exactly poo-poohed such theories. But the truth is that even if Sanders’ supporters won every single precinct delegate they’re contesting it still wouldn’t be enough to overcome Hillary’s win.
It seems like we’ve reached the stage where every…single…ballot is being scrutinzed, and my question is “Uhhh, you guys know there’s still 49 states right?” And does this signal that we are in for a looooong primary season, and a year where there’s more fight in the primaries than in the general election? For the Democratic side, let’s hope not, but the fact that Bernie recently forced Hillary to add four new debates to the schedule doesn’t bode well.