Iowa

The Myth of the Iowa Caucuses Got Busted

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2023

The Myth of the Iowa Caucuses Got Busted

There was at all times one thing undeniably stirring in regards to the Iowa caucuses, the quadrennial political ritual during which the world’s most maniacally formidable folks tried to win over voters, virtually one after the other, in small cities on the prairie. Iowa’s rites—the stump speech delivered in the lounge, the marketing campaign bus pulling up subsequent to the grain silo, the compulsory admiration of the six-hundred-pound butter cow on show on the state honest—turned embedded in America’s political psyche. In 2019, whereas I used to be following Democratic Celebration Presidential aspirants across the state, I drove by two billboards off I-80, exterior Mitchellville. The primary billboard mentioned “JESUS.” The second mentioned “TULSI.” In Iowa, this type of factor made sense.

This previous weekend, the Democratic Celebration introduced a plan for Iowa to now not be the primary official cease in its Presidential-nomination course of, doubtless placing an finish to an association that dates again to the nineteen-seventies. This information was a very long time coming. For years, there have been arguments that Iowa is just too white and too rural to serve such an outsized function in selecting the chief of a celebration that depends so closely on nonwhite voters in cities. It didn’t assist that Iowa’s Democrats additionally most well-liked to vote by way of an advanced, in-person caucus system that harkened again to frontier days. Within the twenty-first century, this quaint custom persistently saved turnout low. Iowa’s diehards would reply with varied arguments of their very own: in regards to the significance of rural points receiving nationwide prominence, in regards to the openings {that a} small state with low cost media markets make for upstart candidates, in regards to the built-up institutional reminiscence and human political expertise that exist within the state. Iowa can also be a mythmaking place—the place else would the ghosts of disgraced ball gamers emerge out of cornstalks?—and that led to loads of paeans in regards to the “seriousness” with which Iowa voters took their obligation as first-in-the-nation voters. The parable of Iowa, amongst Democrats, was strengthened lately by the success of Barack Obama, after which Bernie Sanders, within the state.

What finally did Iowa in was the 2020 caucuses. After greater than a yr of energetic campaigning, throughout which greater than twenty folks declared their candidacies, and figures as diverse as Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, and Marianne Williamson gained nationwide profiles, the caucuses resulted in a complicated mess of delayed reporting, glitchy apps, and unusual math—checked out a technique, Sanders received, checked out one other, Buttigieg did. Joe Biden got here in fourth. The parable was busted.

Underneath the proposal put ahead by the Democratic Nationwide Committee, Iowa’s place on the Democratic Celebration calendar will now be held by South Carolina, adopted by New Hampshire and Nevada, after which Georgia, then Michigan. The transfer, which has loads of broad promoting factors—giving Black and Hispanic voters an earlier say in who leads the Democratic Celebration, and opening up the definition of the nation’s political heartland—has tactical which means, too. South Carolina Democrats, personified by Consultant Jim Clyburn, got here to Biden’s rescue within the state’s 2020 major, after early stumbles in Iowa and New Hampshire. Transferring South Carolina as much as the entrance of the voting line in 2024 is a neat reward. Harry Reid, the late Nevada senator, spent years increase the Democratic Celebration’s infrastructure in his state, and urging the nationwide Celebration to present it first-in-the-nation standing. He, too, can be happy with the proposed modifications, which transfer Nevada nearer to the entrance.

In December, Pat Rynard, a veteran Iowa reporter who runs the Website Iowa Beginning Line, warned of the implications of tailoring nominating contests to the pursuits of social gathering kings and kingmakers. “Iowans like their outsider candidates, and institution front-runners have usually met their match right here,” Rynard wrote. “That type of competitors on a extra even taking part in subject is extraordinarily wholesome for a celebration.” After the information got here out final weekend, some Iowa Democrats, in addition to New Hampshire Democrats, issued statements suggesting that they may go in opposition to the nationwide Celebration’s needs and maintain their Presidential nomination contests early anyway. Each states have legal guidelines on the books to guard their first-in-the-nation standing. These legal guidelines have been at all times foolish. Primaries aren’t constitutionally mandated. They’re social gathering workout routines. There’s no ignoring the politics behind this shakeup. However politics are actual, and myths aren’t.

Considered one of my lasting reminiscences of overlaying the Iowa caucuses occurred in August, 2019, after an occasion known as the Wing Ding, which occurred in within the summer-vacation city of Clear Lake, on the Surf Ballroom—well-known for being the venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Large Bopper’s last present, earlier than their fateful, deadly flight. The Wing Ding had change into its personal Iowa Democratic Celebration custom, and that yr younger staffers and supporters for greater than a dozen candidates had gathered exterior to yell and cheer like they have been at a pep rally. Inside, the candidates have been dropped at the stage to ship fast speeches, which glided by in a blur, as attendees nibbled on hen. Hours later, everybody stumbled out into an Iowan summer season evening. A colleague and I ended in at a close-by gas-station comfort retailer to purchase some espresso earlier than the drive again to Des Moines. Inside, we noticed Joe Sestak, the retired three-star Navy admiral and former congressional consultant, perusing the cabinets. Sestak was one of many extra long-shot figures who had entered the race, and my colleague and I each hesitated for a second, questioning if we had a journalistic obligation to ask him some questions. However what does one ask Joe Sestak in a fuel station after the Wing Ding? That was Iowa. ♦

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Iowa

Iowa WR's absence on bowl game depth chart not a cause for concern

Published

9 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Iowa WR's absence on bowl game depth chart not a cause for concern

The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) recently revealed their depth chart against Missouri (9-3, 5-3 SEC) in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

Iowa freshman wide receiver Reece Vander Zee wasn’t listed, but Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed that it’s not a cause for concern.

“I don’t know when we wrote that depth chart, it was probably last month. He’s fine. Practicing well. In fact, coming off the field last night, asked him how he felt. He feels great. He’ll be in the rotation,” Ferentz said last Friday.

This update is consistent with what Ferentz has said in the buildup to the bowl game versus the Tigers.

Ferentz said both Vander Zee and offensive tackle Gennings Dunker were tracking to play in the bowl game two weeks ago after Iowa’s bowl foe was revealed on Dec. 8.

“Yeah, both those guys are on track right now,” Ferentz said. “Not sure where they’re going to be this week, but I think we are a lot closer.

“Reece got to work—we worked a little bit on Friday—he was out there, so that looks really encouraging. Dunk’s probably a couple days away yet, but he’s doing really well, on a good path. Both those guys are eager to play.”

Vander Zee has caught 14 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns during the 2024 season. The 6-foot-4, 207 pound freshman hasn’t played since starting but then subsequently exiting the Northwestern contest and sporting a walking boot.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

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Iowa

Titans Linked to Sleeper Iowa State WR

Published

19 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Heading into the NFL offseason, the top question surrounding the Tennessee Titans will be about what they’re going to do at the quarterback position.

Will Levis and Mason Rudolph are clearly not clear-cut options long-term.

Outside of that question, the Titans will also need to figure out how to add more weapons for whoever their starting quarterback ends up being. Pursuing another quality wide reciever should be something that they try to do.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, there are ways for Tennessee to address both of those issues. Taking a look at wide receivers in the third or fourth round would make a lot of sense.

With that in mind, Justin Melo of Titan Sized has suggested a sleeper wide receiver out of Iowa State. In his recent five-round mock draft, Melo had the Titans taking Jayden Higgins in the fourth round.

“Are the Titans going to reunite Tee Higgins with Brian Callahan? Callahan’s offense will need an offseason addition to play “X” receiver next season. If Higgins proves to be too expensive, drafting a big-bodied weapon like Jayden Higgins offers an alternative route. Higgins does an outstanding job high-pointing the football at the catch point,” Melo wrote.

Higgins has put together an impressive 2024 season with the Cyclones. He has caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns.

Standing in at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins would bring great size to the Tennessee wide receiver room. His size would make him a lethal threat, especially in red zone situations.

Throughout his entire college career, Higgins has racked up 227 receptions for 3,317 yards and 28 touchdowns. He has proven himself to be a more than capable playmaker.

Taking a flier on him in the fourth round would be a very wise investment. He may not pan out, but if he reaches his full potential he could end up developing into a starter.

He may be a sleeper and wouldn’t be a “flashy” addition, but Higgins has all of the makings of being a draft steal for a team like the Titans who could use a little more help at the position.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Iowa

Runnin’ Utes give up 2nd half lead as Iowa pulls away for 95-88 win

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Runnin’ Utes give up 2nd half lead as Iowa pulls away for 95-88 win

SOUIX FALLS, S.D. — Iowa’s defense was smothering, and Utah did little to help itself on offense by starting the game shooting just 12.5% from the floor.

It was another first-half slow start against a Quad 1 opponent this season.

But unlike in previous Quad 1 games, where Utah allowed the opposing team run away with an early double-digit lead, the Runnin’ Utes fought back. And it was Mason Madsen, who earned his first start of the season, who provided the game-changing spark.

Madsen got a defensive rebound, and then hit a 3-pointer on the other end to open up three straight 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give Utah its first lead of the game.

From there, Utah found its offense to control a 4-point lead at the halftime break before building up the lead to 10 in the second half.

Iowa didn’t back down, though, and slowly chipped away at the lead before eventually pulling away for a 95-88 win at the Sanford Pentagon in the Utah’s final nonconference game of the season.

Madsen finished with 24 points, including going 6-of-11 from 3-point range, six rebounds and four assists, but it wasn’t enough to contend with Iowa’s offensive attack late. Lawson Lovering added 25 points, four rebounds and two assists in the loss.

Iowa forward Payton Sandfort led the charge in the second half and contributed a team-high 24 points and seven rebounds, while four other Iowa players finished in double-digit scoring.

Utah opened up the game shooting just 1-of-8 from the field as Iowa took an early 9-2 lead that was also helped by a defense that forced the Utes into late-shot situations and poor looks. Little by little, Utah found a way to get back into the game, largely by Madsen’s hot shooting and Lovering’s strong post play.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Ezra Ausar hit two free throws to give the Utes a team-high 11-point lead. Over the next five minutes, Iowa slowly chipped away at Utah’s lead and made it a 4-point game with 14:13 left to play.

Utah made only 2 points over the next three minutes as Iowa cut the lead to a single possession before Drew Thelwell hit a 3-pointer with 10:47 left for the go-ahead score. Once Iowa reclaimed the lead, there was little Utah could do over the final 10 minutes of game time to stop the Hawkeyes’ lead from growing.

Owen Freeman, the team’s leading scorer who averages 17.2 points per game, got into foul trouble and was forced to sit for much of the game — including picking up a fourth foul with just under 11 minutes to play — but finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists, while adding three blocks in just 19 minutes of play.

Thelwell and Josh Nix added 15 points apiece, and Brock Harding contributed 12 points to round out Iowa’s top scoring.

Utah closes out nonconference play with an 8-3 record, with all three losses coming against Quad 1 opponents. The Utes resume action on Dec. 31 in Waco, Texas, to start Big 12 play against Baylor.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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