Iowa stars in first act of campaign drama

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - It is a little bit older, a little bit more educated and a whole lot whiter than the rest of the country, and the influence Iowa wields on U.S. presidential politics far outstrips its size.

Every four years, the Midwestern state plays a starring role in the drama of picking a president, winning praise, criticism and the envy of much larger states that watch from afar as Iowa's citizens poke and prod the next occupant of the White House.

When Iowa holds its nominating contest on Thursday, it will be the latest chapter in a long-running political ritual. Along with tiny New Hampshire, which on Tuesday holds the second contest, the states serve as early filters to winnow out losers and elevate a few to move ahead and battle for their parties' presidential nominations for the November election.

Over the years, countless candidates have slogged through the snow and bitter cold of the Iowa winter to shake hands in diners and coffee shops, size up cows and hogs at county fairs and talk to voters in town halls, churches and homes.

The state's charm rests in the nature of the campaign. Its savvy voters demand more than a 30-second attack advertisement -- they want to look candidates in the eye and ask direct questions.

"People here expect to meet the candidates, and they go out of their way to learn about them and make smart choices," said Rick Rawson, an Amana store owner. "Iowans take this process very, very seriously."

Other states have tried to move their contests forward to muscle in on Iowa's role, arguing that its predominantly white, rural population does not offer a representative test.

According to 2006 U.S. Census figures, 93 percent of Iowans are white, compared with 74 percent nationally. Two percent are black and 4 percent Hispanic, compared with 12 percent and 15 percent nationally.

Iowa also has a higher percentage of high school graduates and a slightly higher percentage of residents aged 65 and older than the country as a whole.

'SOMETHING THAT HAS WORKED'

Iowa's defenders say critics miss the point and that bigger states would demand much bigger budgets.

"States like Florida, Michigan and California do not have the same kind of retail politics and face-to-face contact with voters. They are just too big," said Steve Roberts, a Republican National Committee member from Iowa.

"Iowa may not be diverse in terms of minority populations, but we've got two successful parties and people are very active and pay attention. It's something that has worked," he said.

In the most important way, Iowa is not at all different from the rest of the country, said Peverill Squire, a political analyst at the University of Iowa.

"If you look at the issues that drive people -- the Iraq war, health care, economic worries -- the concerns of people in Iowa are very similar to the rest of Americans," he said.

Iowa has been a swing state in recent presidential elections, going narrowly for Democrat Al Gore in 2000 and Republican President George W. Bush in 2004.

More than 120,000 Iowans took part in the 2004 Democratic caucuses. Republicans did not caucus because the incumbent Bush was unopposed. Both parties hold caucuses this year.

The ritual, begun 36 years ago, requires voters to gather on what promises to be a bitterly cold night with neighbors and declare publicly which candidate they support.

A strong organizational effort is required from candidates to identify supporters and ensure they make it to a caucus.

Ironically, Iowa's clout could be magnified this year by the compressed nominating calendar. With so many other state contests following so closely, no candidate will have time to recover from a poor performance.

"It's all about Iowa," has become the mantra for almost every major presidential contender.

Notable exceptions include Republicans Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who has focused more on the big states that hold contests a month after Iowa, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has focused on New Hampshire.

Republican Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, are battling for a win they hope will catapult them to more victories in New Hampshire, South Carolina and beyond.

Among Democrats, polls show a three-way battle at the top among New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)