Evangelical Iowans choose one of their own

Iowa had the first say in the most volatile, wide-open GOP nomination race in a half-century, and the state's recent history bodes well for the caucus winner. It has chosen the Republican who eventually secured the nomination in the two most recent contested GOP competitions — George W. Bush in 2000 and Bob Dole in 1996.

But unlike back then, there is no establishment candidate this year and conservatives who make up the core of the GOP's base had nowhere to automatically turn in the run up to 2008. President Bush is barred from seeking another term, Vice President Dick Cheney doesn't want the job and no obvious successor exists.

Thus, conservatives spent much of the past year searching for a candidate to embrace; they found flaws in each of the many candidates in the remarkably crowded GOP field.

Then Huckabee got a look.

Trailed in money, personnel, polls
He trailed his better-known rivals in money, manpower and polls all year before a surprise autumn surge vaulted him from the back of the crowded pack of candidates to the front. With a bare-bones campaign and modest fundraising, he bet his stellar communication skills and likablity would carry him to a win.

Romney, a self-made multimillionaire who poured more than $17 million into his presidential bid, sunk $7 million into Iowa advertising to emerge as the caucus leader for months. He pinned his hopes on his organizational strength and financial advantage.

In the end, the race for the gold medal in Iowa boiled down to message vs. money — and message won out.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Liz Sidoti covers presidential politics for The Associated Press.

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