Iowa ain't Ohio
Gov. Ted Strickland is getting some flack for saying in The Columbus Dispatch last weekend that it "makes no sense" to allow Iowa the right to hold the first presidential contest.
He called today's caucuses "hugely undemocratic" because the process "excludes so many people."
Does Iowa exclude people?
Here's a look at how Iowa compares to the nation as a whole – and to Ohio:
Percentage of white residents:
- United States: 73.9%
- Iowa: 93%
- Ohio: 84%
Percentage of Hispanic residents:
- United States: 14.8%
- Iowa: 3.8%
- Ohio: 2.3%
Percentage of black residents:
- United States: 12.4%
- Iowa: 2.3%
- Ohio: 11.8%
Percentage of Asian residents:
- United States: 4.4%
- Iowa: 1.5%
- Ohio: 1.5%
Source: 2006 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau.
7 Comments:
at 3:41 PM, January 03, 2008 
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at 5:14 PM, January 03, 2008 
Kelly said...
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at 7:00 PM, January 03, 2008 
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at 7:42 PM, January 03, 2008 
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at 9:48 PM, January 03, 2008 
Kelly said...
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at 4:41 PM, January 04, 2008 
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at 9:22 AM, January 07, 2008 
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Post a Comment*I'm confused, how does this comparison of the racial make up of Ohio and the nation demonstrate exclusion in Iowa? Who in Iowa was excluded from voting?
Strickland was actually talking about how the caucuses don't permit absentee voting, so if you have to work in the evening or are sick or out of town, you get no vote. More details in this New York Times article:
Caucuses Empower Only Some Iowans
You could certainly make the argument that a state with Iowa's demographics shouldn't be considered so much of an opinion leader in the election, but the Dispatch article makes it clear that Strickland's problem with Iowa is the lack of absentee voting.
Kelly Hudson
CiN Weekly
Thank you, Ms Hudson, for pointing out the truth to this story. It's a bit frustrating that these basic facts are found in the comments, and not in the original post by the Enquirer political reporter.
race-based voting leads to tribalism and balkanization. It doesn't work. America is a land of ideas and individuals, not racial identities. Except for Nate. And Chris Smitherman.
Well, I have to admit, I hadn't finished reading the Dispatch article when I made that comment! Strickland is later quoted as saying Iowa "is not a representative state," which would seem to tie into the racial demogaphics after all. But his quotes about the caucus being undemocratic and exclusionary do refer to absentee voting.
Kelly Hudson
CiN Weekly
In theory, Iowa's being first shouldn't affect the votes of the other states-- but people like bandwagons so when there seems to be one, they jump on. The "key" electoral states (i.e. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin) should have the first votes since they are the most important... but they never will because people cling to tradition and my logic (i.e. the diversity and political moderation of the states), though probably agreed upon by most, is not quantifiable
Strickland's comment seemed to be strategically placed to help explain Hillary Clinton's dismal third place finish. With both Obama and Edwards preaching a progressive/change message, it seems that Clinton's status quo message is being rejected by voters. Hillary couldn't be seen as having sour grapes, so it allows her supporters to do it for her.
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