IOWA SHOWS OBAMA WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE ; But Gloves Are Off As Race Moves to New Hampshire

Jan 05, 12:52 AM

BARACK Obama became the frontrunner in the Democrats' race for the White House yesterday - and a marked man.

The Illinois senator, who has only held office for two years, scored a stunning victory in the first caucuses - nomination meetings - of the campaign in Iowa.

But former first lady Hillary Clinton and 2004 vice-presidential candidate John Edwards are expected to take the gloves off as the campaign moves to New Hampshire in five days.

Obama's message of hope and unity went well in Iowa, a rural state where voters are resistant to negative campaigning.

However, Clinton, who is running neck and neck with Obama in national polls but only managed third in Iowa, and Edwards are fighting for their political lives.

Analysts say that means Obama, 46, who is bidding to be the first black president, now has a target on this back.

Democratic strategist Dan Newman said: "Obama has never before faced serious attack delivered by a competent opponent.

"He's now earned the right to be mercilessly scrutinised. No one knows how he'll respond to the challenge and how voters will evaluate the criticism."

The Republican caucus in Iowa also delivered a surprise result, with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee leading the field ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Huckabee, 52, is a Baptist preacher who is in favour of gun rights, anti-abortion and an outspoken critic of stem cell research and gay marriage, as well as dismissing evolutionary theory in favour of creationism.

And his emphasis on his religious faith is unlikely to be as influential in New Hampshire as in Iowa.

With increased turnouts for both parties' caucuses, the Democrats' race was close. But Huckabee took 34 per cent of the Republican vote compared with 25 per cent for Romney.

The Republican national frontrunner, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, has run a very limited campaign in Iowa, choosing to concentrate on states which go to the polls later.

Both parties' winners told their supporters change was coming to America and hailed a new day in US politics.

Obama said: "On this January night, on this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. "You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days.

"You have done what America can do in this new year, 2008."

But as the candidates headed to New Hampshire, New York senator Clinton had her husband Bill, who is still widely popular in the state, by her side.

She is relying on New Hampshire as her husband did in 1992 to make her the "comeback kid" of the election.

Clinton said: "I am so ready for the rest of this campaign and I am so ready to lead.

"We have a long way to go, but I am confident and optimistic - both about the campaign and our country."

Her aides say her campaign would now renew its scrutiny of Obama's comparatively thin record and lack of foreign policy experience.

They will also try to paint him as something of a phoney, pointing to his Senate votes to fund the Iraq war even as he tried to position himself as the strongest anti-war candidate.

"He talks about change but has no real record of making change," said Mark Penn, the Clinton campaign's senior strategist.

The Clinton campaign is also likely to begin airing commercials attacking Obama's health care plan, which they say would leave 15million people uninsured.

And Edwards is expected to renew questions about whether Obama's brand of unity politics is too naive for the dog-eat-dog world of partisan Washington.

Much will also be riding on a TV debate among the Democratic contenders today.

Four more states will make their choices this month, with a further 20 holding primaries on February 5 - which has been labelled "super-duper Tuesday".

(c) 2008 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. IOWA SHOWS OBAMA WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE ; But Gloves Are Off As Race Moves to New Hampshire
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