The results are in and it appears as though Barack Obama has won the first contest of the '08 election season. My hopes were relatively high that Joe Biden would have a stronger showing. In recent weeks it appeared as though people were recognizing his significant credentials and events around the world highlighted the extent to which Biden grasped foreign affairs. I had no lofty beliefs that he would sweep into the top three but a distant fifth place finish certainly does disappoint.Other appeared to have the same expectation:
Brazile: Don't count Biden out
Posted: 07:30 PM ET
(CNN) – Joe Biden is definitely a part of the conversation out in Iowa. Quite honestly, it seems to me that he doesn't have a hard time convincing voters that he is the best candidate for the job — the tough task is convincing folks that he is viable. But his camp seems confident that this is where their large group of legislators and party chairs will bring it home for them. Once they get into those rooms on caucus night, they say, they will see all the others for Biden — and between that and professional organizers doing their thing, they will bring it home to fourth place or higher.
–CNN's Donna Brazile
Perhaps I am a different type of Democrat or a different type of voter but I just don't understand those that separate "best candidate for the job" from "most viable". It seems to me that if someone is the "best candidate for the job" they ought to also be the "most viable". If people are separating these two conditions, they are essentially allowing a sub par candidate to run for office and potentially run the country. It matters not if this person is a Democrat or a Republican (although I would prefer a Democrat) but we really should evaluate what kind of government we are electing when we choose the person with the "flare" to get elected and leave the person who has the knowledge out in the cold.
Hopefully, this story is mere conjecture:
Biden expected to exit race tonight
REGISTER STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS • January 3, 2008
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden was expected to announce his withdrawal from the presidential race following a fifth place finish in the Iowa caucuses.
Biden, who consistently ranked fifth in the polls behind New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, placed fifth in the caucus with less than 2 percent. Richardson placed fourth with 2 percent.
The veteran senator and chair of the foreign relations committee remained optimistic despite seemingly low support throughout his months-long campaign throughout Iowa, promising that he would shock the nation with a surprise third- or fourth-place finish. He campaigned consistently on a plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq while leaving a federalistic system in place.
Penni Guyler wore a pained look on her face when asked her reaction to Biden’s showing in the Iowa Democratic caucus.
"I’m bummed," said the nurse from the south side of Des Moines.
"I think money speaks and I think that the mere fact that … we were told who we were going to go with by the media had something to do with it," she said.
Biden had hoped for a surprise showing of fourth place or better in Iowa to bring him media attention that to date has been showered on front-runners. But he wasn’t able to beat his second-tier rival Richardson, who has surpassed him in fundraising and most Iowa polls.
Sen. Barack Obama bested former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who came in second and third.
About 200 of Biden's supporters gathered at the Science Center of Iowa here for a caucus night rally.
Wearing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton button on her Biden T-shirt, Guyler explained she had to realign during her caucus when Biden only had nine of the 38 supporters he needed to be viable in her caucus.
She said Biden should stay in the race, although she had to admit his chances don't look good.
Ann Klovstad of Des Moines said another problem for Biden was not getting enough time at debates.
"When he did, he had the best answers, was the most eloquent and the other candidates would say, 'I agree with Joe,' " she said.
But Dwight Stelling, a teacher at Grand View College and Biden supporter, didn’t trust the polls and had expected Biden to crack into the top three.
"I think Biden is not down," he said. "He'll go on."
