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Why Iowa's a Slog for Hillary

As memo predicted in May, the state has been an uphill battle

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2008 2:05 PM CST
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(Newser) – The Hillary Clinton camp was convinced that the road to the nomination must go through Iowa, but right about now they may be wishing they'd taken the advice of an aide who urged her to bypass the first caucus state completely. Politico revisits the aide's May memo for keys to her disappointing standing with one day left: For starters, the Hawkeye State has never elected a woman—not as governor, senator, or congresswoman.

Iowa Dems also tend to be pretty liberal, and many won’t forgive Hillary her Iraq vote. And third, since Bill sat out 1992, she had no pre-built operation to overcome those negatives. She's gambling heavily on bringing out women, young and old, looking to elect the first president of their gender, Time notes. But as first-time caucusgoers are notoriously unreliable at showing up, there's no telling whether they'll do the trick.

Audience members sign in prior to a campaign stop of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. in Vinton, Iowa, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Audience members sign in prior to a campaign stop of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. in Vinton, Iowa, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a rally in Iowa City, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks at a rally in Iowa City, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., back to camera, greets supporters at a rally in Iowa City, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., back to camera, greets supporters at a rally in Iowa City, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)   (Associated Press)
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Clinton relying on first-time caucus-goers
Time

Hillary pulls out the stops in Iowa
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Clinton shows her human side
Telegraph (UK)

 
Iraq • Hillary Clinton • Clinton 2008 • Democratic presidential primaries • female president • caucusgoers • Hawkeye State • Iowa caucuses

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