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POTATO HEAD ROXON
HILLARY Clinton is on course for a damaging result and Rudy Giuliani is lagging behind his rivals in the first real test of support for the candidates vying to become the next US president.
Barack Obama has been named as the winner in the Democratic race in the Iowa caucuses, while former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee has won the state's Republican race.
Former senator and 2004 vice-presidential candidate John Edwards was in second place on the Democratic side, just a handful of votes ahead of senator Clinton as counting continued. A third place finish would be a real problem for senator Clinton, who was the frontrunner for much of 2007.
In the Republican race, Mr Huckabee won 34 per cent support to place well ahead of his party rivals. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was in second place with 25 per cent while former senator Fred Thompson had come from the edge of campaign oblivion to be placed third (14 per cent).
While there is nothing technically preventing candidates who poll poorly in Iowa from continuing on in the race, early disappointment usually send donors running to the frontrunners, making it virtually impossible for campaigns to stay alive.
The Republican frontrunner in the next contest - in New Hampshire on Tuesday - senator John McCain, was fourth with 13 per cent support while former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was sixth.
If senator Obama wins in New Hampshire, he would be virtually unstoppable in the race to his party's nomination for the presidential election, which takes place in November.
Multimedia Package Clooney, Clint help explain how it all works »
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Mr Giuliani's strategy had focused most attention on late-voting states such as Florida, before he started devoting more time to the earlier states.
Correspondents at the caucuses around Iowa had reported that Mr Edwards was lagging behind senator Clinton and senator Obama when voters entering the meetings were asked who they supported.
Conceding defeat, Mr Romney said he would fight on despite piling millions of dollars into Iowa.
"I'm looking for the gold or the silver ... I'm going to continue battling and I will get the nomination. Congratulations to Mike and we'll go on to New Hampshire," Mr Romney said on Fox News.
The 2008 campaign is the most open presidential race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination.
Iowa's opening contest in the nominating battle has traditionally served to narrow the presidential field of no-hopers and elevate some surprise contenders.
Record turnout had been expected for the Democrats, surpassing the 124,000 Iowans who participated in 2004. Republicans could challenge their record of 87,000 caucus participants in 2000.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23005831-5012572,00.html
Barack Obama has been named as the winner in the Democratic race in the Iowa caucuses, while former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee has won the state's Republican race.
Former senator and 2004 vice-presidential candidate John Edwards was in second place on the Democratic side, just a handful of votes ahead of senator Clinton as counting continued. A third place finish would be a real problem for senator Clinton, who was the frontrunner for much of 2007.
In the Republican race, Mr Huckabee won 34 per cent support to place well ahead of his party rivals. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was in second place with 25 per cent while former senator Fred Thompson had come from the edge of campaign oblivion to be placed third (14 per cent).
While there is nothing technically preventing candidates who poll poorly in Iowa from continuing on in the race, early disappointment usually send donors running to the frontrunners, making it virtually impossible for campaigns to stay alive.
The Republican frontrunner in the next contest - in New Hampshire on Tuesday - senator John McCain, was fourth with 13 per cent support while former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was sixth.
If senator Obama wins in New Hampshire, he would be virtually unstoppable in the race to his party's nomination for the presidential election, which takes place in November.
Multimedia Package Clooney, Clint help explain how it all works »
Interactive Who would Australia choose if we had a vote? »
Mr Giuliani's strategy had focused most attention on late-voting states such as Florida, before he started devoting more time to the earlier states.
Correspondents at the caucuses around Iowa had reported that Mr Edwards was lagging behind senator Clinton and senator Obama when voters entering the meetings were asked who they supported.
Conceding defeat, Mr Romney said he would fight on despite piling millions of dollars into Iowa.
"I'm looking for the gold or the silver ... I'm going to continue battling and I will get the nomination. Congratulations to Mike and we'll go on to New Hampshire," Mr Romney said on Fox News.
The 2008 campaign is the most open presidential race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination.
Iowa's opening contest in the nominating battle has traditionally served to narrow the presidential field of no-hopers and elevate some surprise contenders.
Record turnout had been expected for the Democrats, surpassing the 124,000 Iowans who participated in 2004. Republicans could challenge their record of 87,000 caucus participants in 2000.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23005831-5012572,00.html
