Five-day gap between Iowa caucus and NH primary shapes presidential race

[ClarkUSA]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - After more than a year of political campaigning and tens of millions of dollars raised and spent, some experts believe the
contests to choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for president could be over in a mere five days.

The first political caucus in Iowa on January 3 and the first primary in New Hampshire on January 8 could produce the nominee for each party, leaving
millions of voters headed to nominating contests later in the spring with the nominees already effectively chosen, they say.

If so, the longest presidential nominating season ever -- one that began two years before the November 2008 election -- could wrap up in the shortest
time ever. But plenty of scenarios showing nominations decided by Iowa and New Hampshire exist, experts say, especially if the same candidate wins
both states....Among Democrats, said Dante Scala, political science professor at the University of New Hampshire, if New York Sen. Hillary Clinton or
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama wins both early states, "the race for the nomination is essentially over."

<snip>

Jennifer Donahue, political analyst at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, agreed that the nominations could be sewn up in less than a week if front-
runners win both early contests but noted the strong possibility of other outcomes.

"If a front-runner goes two-for-two, it's over," she said, yet a scenario such as a surprise victory by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in Iowa could
weaken support for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in New Hampshire and extend the contest for the Republican nomination.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/pl_nm/usa_politics_primaries_dc;_ylt=AobcCemvNhikK16LP6Yb2SYa.3QA

This is an interesting argument refuting some who argue that Clinton could absorb losses in IA and NH but still manage to go onto victory on Super Duper
Tuesday on Feb. 5. Of course, none of us really know what could happen but I've always believed that whoever wins Iowa will go on to win the nomination
because of what I saw happen in 2004 with Kerry.

We shall see.

[MadBadger]

1. I dont agree that if OBama wins both Iowa and NH, the race is over

Then again I'm nowhere near an expert. But she still has massive leads in those other states for one reason or another. I think if Obama wins though, we have ourselves a true race