Huckabee, Obama Win Iowa

 By: Paul Lim
College Press Staff Writer

 

 

Early evening projections predicted correctly when they saw former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee leading the Republicans and Illinois Senator Barack Obama in front of the Democrats.

The huge swell of support that has grown for Huckabee was certainly the boost that has carried him through this primary process.  Despite what many are calling a gaffe, in his “will not release – but will show to the press” ad against opponent former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, numbers show Huckabee has a healthy margin on Romney, who placed second.

The Romney campaign spoke with FOX News and compared the primary to a baseball game, “First inning in, well it’s a 50-inning ballgame. I’m going to keep on battling all the way and anticipate I get the nomination when it’s all said and done, but you know congratulations for the first round to Mike, and we’ll go on to New Hampshire.”

While the Huckabee surge is being felt all over the country, Romney is still highly competitive in other early primary states like New Hampshire and Michigan.

Meanwhile, former Senator Fred Thompson (TN) and Senator John McCain (AZ) are fighting for third place.

For the Democrats, it is not so cut and dry.  The top three candidates are all very close in the polls, but Obama is holding on to the lead.  Long-running favorite for the Democrats, Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) is holding a second place to Obama, while former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is steady right next to Clinton.

Obama has seen his support multiply in recent weeks using tactics like campaigning to first-time voters and, of course, there is Oprah.  Many question if this signals a change in the Clinton monotony among the Democrats or if it is just a bump on the trail for the former First Lady.

Next on the agenda is New Hampshire.  On January 8th, voters again select a candidate to represent their party.  Polls show McCain and Romney are fighting for number one, despite recent Anti-Mormon sentiment spreading across the state.  The Democrats also see tight numbers between Clinton and Obama.

Also, Wyoming will be holding its caucus for Republicans on Saturday.  Of the Republicans, only Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul have visited the Equality State.