Notes from the Campaign Trail II

Over the last 12 years of covering election cycles for broadcast news, I've seen enough of Iowa and New Hampshire to get a feel for what those places are really like and how they relate to the national political scene.

With that in mind, let me offer some observations: Iowa is just about as lily white as you can get. The people are clean, friendly- and pale. Their leaders will try to tell you that isn't so. They'll say that Iowa is much more diverse than people give it credit for. But, that's just hype. Des Moines, the capital city, is modern, clean, safe, and efficient. It is also overwhelmingly white. It is very rare to see a person of color downtown. In fact, the only minorities that I have observed there are workers who serve the white people in hotels and restaurants. Of course, this is the case in most American cities. However, that is the ONLY place I have ever seen them. And, if that's the State's capital and largest city, you can only imagine how homogeneous the rural (rest) part of it is. It's also overwhelmingly Christian. In other words, it certainly does not look or feel or act like the part of the Country where I grew up.

New Hampshire, by my observation, is certainly not as homogeneous as Iowa. However, ethnic diversity is not necessarily its strong suit either. The capital, Manchester, is older and more gritty than Des Moines. It certainly has a feel more like the cities I grew up in and around. Still, New Hampshire is TINY in population with just 1.3 million residents. It is also mostly rural.

So, why all the hype?

Well, Iowans do know a good thing when they see it. And, they're not going to let it go. It is the official kickoff of the actual nominating process for President. They are very proud of their slogan "First in the Nation" - at least when it comes to beginning the election process. Then, they use the "quaint" method of caucusing instead of the more traditional primary. Iowa is so sparsely populated (just over 3 million people in a geographically large state) that they CAN caucus, i.e. meet among themselves and with the candidates in small, intimate settings. It's all quite charming AND doable. It makes for good television. Can you imagine this happening in New York City (population 8 million +)? I think not! The caucus is generally the ONLY reason why people would come to Iowa at all.

The draw in New Hampshire is that it is an old State, one of the original thirteen colonies (founded in 1629), and carries with it a certain tradition associated with American patriotism. It is known for a fierce sense of independence (the state motto is Live Free or Die). So, the voting pattern can be a prognosticator of how some of the large states in the Northeast might vote. Plus, it is the first primary (a more traditional and common practice) in the Country.

Besides, in the age of the internet and the 24 hour news cycle, you need to fill a lot of air time. And, politics, especially this year with the crowded GOP field, makes for good television.