Should Democrats be gloating over Iowa?
Liberals are ecstatic about Mitt Romney's underwhelming win over weak rivals in the Hawkeye State caucuses. Is Team Obama getting cocky?
Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucuses by a scant eight votes. But even that slimmest of victories in the state that spurned him four years ago may be enough to ensure Romney's nomination as this year's GOP presidential standard-bearer. And yet, the biggest victory celebrations this week might have been in the Obama re-election headquarters. Democrats gleefully pointed out that Romney and his allies spent millions of dollars in Iowa to win about the same number of votes as he bagged in his 2008 loss, and a smaller slice of the overall vote. "He's still the 25 percent man," said Obama election guru David Axelrod, arguing that with 75 percent of Republicans voting for somebody else, Romney is in for a long, damaging fight. Are liberals getting overconfident?
Dems should be happy: If Romney can do no better than tie with Rick Santorum, "the guy who compared gays to 'man on dog' sex and thinks contraception is evil," Obama can breathe a lot easier, says Paul Begala at The Daily Beast. Not only did Romney spend four years and $4 million to merely tread water in a pool of "unelectable" rivals, but those "weak opponents are dragging him further to the right," and thus further from the critical independent voters who will decide November's general election.
"Iowa results show Romney's weakness even against GOP 'unelectables'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Iowa results are actually bad for Obama: Democrats should be "bummed" by Romney's win, says Jacob Weisberg at Slate. Polls show that Romney is the strongest GOP challenger to Obama, and "short of Republicans committing collective suicide by picking someone else," the GOP race is now effectively over. Even liberals' next-best scenario — "a protracted, costly struggle that would deplete [Romney's] financial resources, sully his image, and drag him further to the right" — looks less likely after Iowa.
"Face it: Romney's the nominee"
And the Left's cheering may backfire: Republicans may not love Romney, but they'll "be eager to vote against Obama almost no matter who the nominee is," says Tina Korbe at Hot Air. The Democrats' "gleeful" spinning of the Iowa results might actually accomplish something the Romney campaign has been unable to achieve: "Incense Republicans enough to vehemently rally around" the GOP frontrunner. Certainly, this is the first time I've been moved to "feel defensive of Romney."
"DNC chairwoman: 'A great night for us'"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay: unwind at this picture-perfect resort
The Week Recommends The retreat that's ideal for recharging your batteries while experiencing life on an Indonesian island
By Yasemen Kaner-White Published
-
The World War Two experiments that made D-Day possible
Under The Radar Scientists performed gruelling tests on themselves paving the way for the iconic invasion
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Is the Supreme Court about to criminalize homelessness?
Talking Points The court will decide if bans on outdoor camping are 'cruel and unusual'
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published