The Democratic Iowa caucuses were held Monday night with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts finishing in first place and receiving 38 percent of the state convention delegates. North Carolina Senator John Edwards finished second with 32 percent.
Once viewed as the front runner for the nomination, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean finished a distant third with only 18 percent. Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri finished in fourth with 11 percent, and as a result dropped out of the race on Tuesday.
With the Democratic Iowa Caucuses over, the national political spotlight now turns to New Hampshire. As the first state to hold primary elections, next Tuesday is expected to be another close race.
Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and retired Army General Wesley Clark were not in Iowa for the caucuses in order to concentrate on the New Hampshire primary. Lieberman made headlines Monday night as New Hampshire’s largest newspaper, The Union Leader, endorsed Lieberman for standing by his positions and not changing them.
At his press conference, the victorious Kerry said, “Iowa, I love you ... I make you this pledge—I have only just begun to fight.” Encouraged by his close second finish, Edwards told his supporters that they had started “a movement to change this country that will sweep across America.” During his press conference, Dean said, “We will not give up.”
While Dean was leading the polls early on, Kerry and Edwards showed a surge in the more recent polls. Monday night estimates were that over 100,000 voters participated in the Iowa Democratic caucuses.
