Iowa Decides; Primary Season Just Beginning

Well, the Iowa caucus is over, but primary season has just begun. Ultimately, today's events just determine the narratives going forward, and I hope those still waiting on the big primaries on Feb. 5th still feel that their votes count. But who won tonight?

On the Democratic side, it was a very strong win for Barack Obama... and Democrats in general (turnout for them was record-breaking; GOP turnout was lackluster). Obviously, I'm pretty excited about this and I think it bodes well for progressive issues going into the 2008 race. Andrew Sullivan gushes-

"This black man won an overwhelmingly white vote in Iowa. Whatever else happens, he has made history tonight. And he deserved every single vote."

Yes, thanks for not being racist, Iowa! {*rolls eyes*} Seriously, though, this is pretty exciting.

On the Republican, it was an overwhelming victory for Mike Huckabee. Though he came in second, this was a huge blow to Mitt Romney, who spent more money per voter than any other candidate. He's not done yet, but it's nice to see people saw through this phony. McCain came in a distant third, which isn't bad, considering he was trailing until recently. The big loser was Rudy Giuliani whose campaign imploded (right on schedule) and ended finishing 6 points behind Ron Paul. As Salon's Tim Grieve quipped, "9 + 1 + 1 = sixth place".

But Huckabee's win has the GOP establishment worried... they don't like him. Why? Well-

"Few of Huckabee’s critics have actually come out and said what many of them think. The language is coded, as it usually is with class and race in this country. The Wall Street Journal, the anti-tax jihadists at the Club For Growth, the National Review – these pillars of Old School Republicanism have signaled that Huckabee is Not One of Ours. But they’re careful to say it’s not about class, because, of course – it is!

Class war is forbidden in the Republican playbook. But Huckabee, despite an inept last week of campaigning, has forced the Republican party to face the Wal-Mart shoppers that they have long taken advantage of. He’s here. He’s Gomer. And he’s not going away...

...It’s okay to have faux rubes, a la Bush senior and his pork rinds, or George W. and his Midland malapropisms. But when something that looks like the real thing comes along, the Republican royalists get apoplectic. They were appalled at the recent YouTube debate because it looked like a parody of one faction of their party – complete with Bible-waving wackos, trigger-happy gun nuts and Confederate-flag enthusiasts.

Among fellow Republican candidates, Huckabee is certainly “not one of them” in the bottom-line sense."

Of course, when it comes to populism, Huckabee is no John Edwards, but compared to someone like Romney or McCain... he sounds like John F'ing Mellencamp and that scares the suits. They'll work hard now to tear him down (and likely rally around McCain). I love watching such a loathsome party fight itself.

Andrew Sullivan notes they are reaping what they have sown-

"Twice as many people turned out for the Democrats than the Republicans. Clearly independents prefer the Dems... One is a national party; the other is on its way to being an ideological church. The damage Bush and Rove have done - revealed in 2006 - is now inescapable."

Amen.... pardon the pun. And good riddance.

TPM's final scorecard is... here. Expect the first drop-outs (Dodd, others) to come today.