Many ask why so much effort is put into campaigning in Iowa. Like a demented scene in “Music Man” the candidates meander through the cornfield laden counties of Iowa during the hottest months to crowds that would seem insignificant in other, more populous states. But the dividend is enormous. For Barack Obama, winning Iowa has served as rocket fuel. Obama is bucking convention. Iowa, a state made of 95% white citizens, propelled him to victory. Now on the eve of the New Hampshire primary the momentum of Iowa is carrying the day and the Clinton campaign is left reeling. Hillary Clinton once approved of the primary schedule because her air of invincibility would propel her forward quickly from Iowa to New Hampshire. That desire has backfired and the schedule has instead benefited Barack Obama. Prior to the Iowa Caucus, Obama trailed Clinton marginally. Just after the vote they polled evenly at 33%. In today’s latest polls Obama has surged ahead by 13 percentage points. The Clinton team has now opened up a strategy that attempts to pull Obama down by singling out his voting record in an attempt to diffuse the tsunami. Unfortunately for them, Obama doesn’t have a long history in the Senate from which to use as ammunition. In past elections, senators have had difficulties getting elected president due to a plethora of votes that could be used against them. Senator Obama may well be immune to such attacks. Because he is a relative newcomer and possesses an abundance of charisma , it is difficult to box him into a corner and thus he is more able to define himself. Now, in the land of lobster and Dartmouth it appears the junior Senator from Illinois may well be crowned. A win in New Hampshire will put Obama in a situation where only he can cause his own demise. If this becomes reality Iowa will have proved to be a kingmaker and all those hot summer days spent campaigning will have born fruit during these snowy months. I guess it should not be a surprise that a son of a Kansas girl will have been anointed in the cornfields of Iowa. What is surprising is he is also the son of a Kenyan.

Barack Obama’s popularity soars – in Germany