Why do we do so well in IA?

It would seem to me that culturally, IA isn't that much differnt from NE or IN yet we are way ahead in IA. They must have the smartest farmers in America.

actions that are beneficial.

schools. It isn't intelligence. You have to educate people.

and I know for a fact that she was smart and totally honest. If she is an example of
the people of Iowa, we can count on great things from there.

and McCain insulting workers saying they wouldn't pick lettuce for $50.00 an hour in the hot sun.

:rofl:

:shrug:

well informed.

Plus, Iowans have been fucked over by Republicans in years past and are waking up.

...and they vote based on issues.


I'd be wiling to bet that their average political IQ is MUCH higher there.

Simple as that I guess. Plus we love our politics in Iowa, and we take it pretty seriously..

polls during the run up to the caucuses.

People's decisions aren't based on name recognition and they don't blow with the latest political wind - that doesn't mean they are always right, it just means they aren't so flaky and shallow.

Many of the populist socialist/labor/farmer organizers came from these regions around the turn of last century. While Kansas has lost all of this instinct Iowa still has a lot of it.

Most of the land mass of Nebraska is a lost cause. The Western 3/4 of the state is as desolate, and as red, as Wyoming is. However, that Western 3/4 is only 1 electoral vote. 3rd District, which is most of Eastern Nebraska, is only slightly better. We can catch 2nd District, which is Omaha and its suburbs, by bombarding the city with TV ads, candidates and their surrogates, and driving out the vote. Due to a state law, each district has an individual electoral vote. This means that Obama can get beaten hard in 1st District, 3rd District, and the state wide vote, but can still get 2nd District's EV by squeaking a majority out.

As for Indiana, that's more of a question for an Indianan. Indiana is not very much like Iowa, except for having schools in the Big 10 conference. It is more like Ohio than Iowa. I think the best plan is for Chicagoans to hit the state hard to drive out the vote.

1. Iowa caucuses. We're first, so the candidates LIVE here from November to early January. (I think Chris Dodd actually moved his family here in December.) They campaign hard here, and we listen to them. As a contrast, the Republicans tend to concentrate on New Hampshire. (See McCain in '00 and '08.)

2. Education system. We have a strong K-12 school system, and many good colleges. Our kids learn a lot in school, and it shows. When we hear politics, we can digest all angles of it. We aren't one of one-liners, but general impressions.

3. Population distribution. As an Iowan, the state has two very different extremes. Western Iowa (anything west of West Des Moines) is hopelessly Republican. It IS like Nebraska. Eastern Iowa (Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and eastward) is hugely Democratic. It is like Illinois. The central third goes both ways. Des Moines is somewhat progressive, but Ames is as bad as Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

What helps us is that Western Iowa has a lot less people than Eastern Iowa does. Of the 10 largest cities, 5 are in Eastern Iowa, 3 are in Central Iowa, and 2 are in Western Iowa. 5th District, which is redder than Palin's lipstick, covers the 32 counties (of 99 total) of Western Iowa. 2nd District, which is as blue as most of Chicago, is the southeast 15 counties of Iowa. 1st District, which leans blue, is the eastern most 13 counties. 3rd District, which is currently leaning blue, is the central 12 counties, including the capital and largest city Des Moines. 4th District, which is leaning red, is the rest of the counties, mainly in the north.

That's why Iowa leans blue. If you're asking why Obama is walloping McCain here, there are two extra points.

4. McCain does not like Iowa. He has snubbed us in '00 and '08 by not campaigning here heavily. It shows, since he got 4th in 2008 (behind Huckabee, Romney, and Thompson) and 5th in 2000 (behind Bush, Steve Forbes, Alan Keyes, and Gary Bauer).

5. Iowa LOVES Obama. He is from neighboring Illinois, which Eastern Iowa approves pretty highly. He also takes us seriously, by spending a lot of time here even before the caucuses. In return, we helped to propel him past Hillary and towards the nomination.

Oh, and an addendum to your post. Just because we are known for our agriculture doesn't mean we're all hick farmers. I was in 4-H in my youth, and half of my club raised no animals and grew no crops.

who don't get hoodwinked by faux outrage and media spin.