It’s small, unrepresentative, and exercises disproportionate clout in the country’s presidential nominating process. Or so say the critics of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus, which has played a major role in shaping the race for the White House since 1972 when it helped propel George McGovern to the Democratic presidential nomination. The Hawkeye State’s prominence is under fire as seldom before as other states crowd the front end of the nominating calendar. But until further notice, Iowa still owns the opening bell on Jan. 3, 2008. Charles Ommanney, on assignment for NEWSWEEK, toured the state as the political competition heated up in late October. A look at Iowa through his eyes.
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