Tuesday night was another pivotal moment for this fall’s Presidential election. It starts the push towards who the real candidates are. Iowa was a start, and when it comes to Democratic side not a bad look at how the nation may approach the nominee selection. For the GOP side though, it is another story. With the high level of Evangelical super right-wing conservatism within the Republican base in Iowa, you can see how history shows the winner of Iowa almost always loses the primary for the GOP nominee. Tuesday though really started what may be a very drawn out race. The big questions going into the night were as follows. Will Bernie keep some momentum from the tie and show his muscles in a state he already had a lead in? Will Donald Trump make a comeback and finally learn something about a “ground game?”
The answers are in the results. Both Bernie and Trump were the favorites going in. There is no surprise to anyone that they did actually win. It is in the way they won that is significant.
The answers are in the results. Both Bernie and Trump were the favorites going in. There is no surprise to anyone that they did actually win. It is in the way they won that is significant.
Bernie Sanders was polling at around 12% above Hilary in NH prior to Iowa. He did gain some steam from the virtual tie. The polls after the last debate, but before the primary were showing an increased lead to almost 16% on average. These are huge numbers. It is still a relatively small state and states like NH will have little to do with the final count of delegates. What they do tell though, is the momentum. It can legitimize a candidate. Bernie came out of Tuesday’s primary with a 21% win. That is one of the most remarkable spreads in an election. Let alone he did it against one of the most known names in politics. He needed a very strong appearance to help prove to the country he is not only a good progressive candidate, but that he is electable on a grander scale. He once again, still has a very lengthy and harsh path to victory, but there is reason for optimism. The media will be forced to talk about him. People will have to take notice, and hopefully the people of the Democratic Party will take the time to become informed voters, and that bodes Very well for Bernie.
Bernie’s win also means Hilary will go on the attack once again. This last week we already saw a surge of women within the senate and house support Hilary. In the end all but Elizabeth Warren have given their endorsement for Hilary. Warren still tries to stay out of the controversy, most likely to protect the potential of VP for one of the candidates. It also seems almost certain she would support Bernie over Hilary. But the other political women who are now currently busing around South Carolina are spreading some fear and hate towards women. A famous line from last week is Madeleine Albright,
Bernie’s win also means Hilary will go on the attack once again. This last week we already saw a surge of women within the senate and house support Hilary. In the end all but Elizabeth Warren have given their endorsement for Hilary. Warren still tries to stay out of the controversy, most likely to protect the potential of VP for one of the candidates. It also seems almost certain she would support Bernie over Hilary. But the other political women who are now currently busing around South Carolina are spreading some fear and hate towards women. A famous line from last week is Madeleine Albright,
There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t vote for Hilary.”
For honesty’s sake, I will mention that this is a line she has used many times throughout her career stating that women must stick together and vote for women. The troubling part of the comment is that it itself is sexist. It diminishes the ability or desire for women to look at policy and history to decide which candidate they want. They must only use their gender to decide. How is that female empowerment? I also criticize this comment with the obvious counter, what if the race was Bernie Sanders vs Carly Fiorina, or Bernie vs Michele Bachmann, or Bernie vs Sarah Palin. Would these Democratic women support voting for these women over Bernie, simply because they are women? If the answer is yes, then I am very saddened that these powerful women would ignore and throw away their beliefs. The answer is that they would NEVER say these things if that was the case. They are just trying to fear women into voting for Hilary. I have to say, I don’t mind Hilary as a candidate. I don’t mind when she ACTUALLY challenges Bernie on policies. She is stronger on foreign policy, and has had a tougher record on gun control. Use those actual policies to differ yourself from Bernie.
These other types of attacks are below the belt and have no real merit. She did a similar technique while facing Obama ("Obama boys" anyone? Currently using the phrase "Bernie bros."). We should not allow any of our candidates to resort to the deplorable behavior that we see from Republican candidates. They are the ones trying to convince people to vote against their best interests by keeping them uninformed. We are the Party for having reason, and well informed debates. We are the Party of intellectual discussion. Let’s not resort to such childish attacks. Hilary has a long track record of fighting for many social issues. She would be a good candidate. Hilary needs to stay positive about her own stances, not her own gender.
Trump performed better than expected as well in NH. The polls still showed a lead after Iowa, but it did seem he was losing steam. He must have finally figured out what a “ground game” was. They did get turn out and also won by an impressive 19% margin. He has reinserted himself as the frontrunner, and may lead to a crushing defeat of the rest of the field if this continues. This may have been GOP’s worst fear. In the end he won, as was expected and showed that he can find a way to get the radicalized Right-Wing to actually come out and vote. He still shows very unpopular general election polls, but the GOP may have no choice but to have him as the nominee.
These other types of attacks are below the belt and have no real merit. She did a similar technique while facing Obama ("Obama boys" anyone? Currently using the phrase "Bernie bros."). We should not allow any of our candidates to resort to the deplorable behavior that we see from Republican candidates. They are the ones trying to convince people to vote against their best interests by keeping them uninformed. We are the Party for having reason, and well informed debates. We are the Party of intellectual discussion. Let’s not resort to such childish attacks. Hilary has a long track record of fighting for many social issues. She would be a good candidate. Hilary needs to stay positive about her own stances, not her own gender.
Trump performed better than expected as well in NH. The polls still showed a lead after Iowa, but it did seem he was losing steam. He must have finally figured out what a “ground game” was. They did get turn out and also won by an impressive 19% margin. He has reinserted himself as the frontrunner, and may lead to a crushing defeat of the rest of the field if this continues. This may have been GOP’s worst fear. In the end he won, as was expected and showed that he can find a way to get the radicalized Right-Wing to actually come out and vote. He still shows very unpopular general election polls, but the GOP may have no choice but to have him as the nominee.
In a surprising turn of events, it was Kasich who came in second. This is a guy who has spent most of his campaign as one of the most outside podiums at debates. He has been run over by the boisterous group of individuals within his Party. He may not really have a chance, but I would say out of them all, he is the sanest candidates from the GOP. He has been the Governor of Ohio and has some actual leadership history. His success is a mix, and being a Republican, he has allowed many conservative policies plague his state. In the end he seems to be reasonable. Maybe not great, but a HELL of a lot better than any of the other individuals. Will he start to build off this second place? Probably not, and he will fizzle out along with Chris Christie and Jeb Bush.
Rubio’s big surge out of Iowa also got trampled. He finished even below a lackluster and somewhat sad looking man, Jeb Bush. Any idea of a momentum was thwarted. He was demolished in the last debate and that did most likely effect his numbers. He has proven he only can say talking points. He is one of the most stereotypical politicians in the game. If there is one thing proving to be a major concern and topic this election season, it is that people hate how politics has been going. He is too establishment to have a real chance of swaying the general public.
The rest of the candidates on the Right have or will start to end their bids. The once nationally leading Ben Carson got a measly 2% in the primary. Carly as of today decided to end her bid. Christie will not be far behind. The race of the Right may be a 4 person race soon. Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Kasich. It will be a very rough road to see which of these individuals finds a way to get past Trump, if it can even be done.
Rubio’s big surge out of Iowa also got trampled. He finished even below a lackluster and somewhat sad looking man, Jeb Bush. Any idea of a momentum was thwarted. He was demolished in the last debate and that did most likely effect his numbers. He has proven he only can say talking points. He is one of the most stereotypical politicians in the game. If there is one thing proving to be a major concern and topic this election season, it is that people hate how politics has been going. He is too establishment to have a real chance of swaying the general public.
The rest of the candidates on the Right have or will start to end their bids. The once nationally leading Ben Carson got a measly 2% in the primary. Carly as of today decided to end her bid. Christie will not be far behind. The race of the Right may be a 4 person race soon. Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Kasich. It will be a very rough road to see which of these individuals finds a way to get past Trump, if it can even be done.