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Obama, Huckabee surge ahead in Iowa caucuses

K.V. Prasad

Photo: AFP

The race begins: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (left) and Democratic hopeful Barack Obama address supporters at caucus rallies in Iowa on Thursday. —

WASHINGTON: Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee on Thursday surged ahead in the race for the next United States President at the end of the Iowa caucuses.

Mr. Obama, 46, moved ahead of the other Democratic contenders with 38 per cent of the votes polled, against 30 per cent by John Edwards and 29 per cent by the former First Lady, Hillary Clinton. Iowa is the first in the State-by-State elections to pick up presidential candidates for the November 8 election.

Declaring that Americans were choosing hope over fears and unity over division, Mr. Obama told his supporters that the “time for change has come.” Reports say that the Illinois Senator had the support of the youth.

Ms. Clinton said she was determined to take Iowa’s enthusiastic support to the Democrats to the January 8 caucus at New Hampshire. The impressive turnout sent a clear message that America wants a Democratic President in the White House.

Making it clear she was in the fight, she said it was time to focus on two big questions of how the Democrats would be able to go the distance and win the election and be the “best President on Day One and I intend to do that.”

Mr. Edwards said the results showed that status quo had lost and change had won. Addressing supporters, he said they had to move on to the next round of battle to determine who is best suited to bring that change.

On the Republican side, Mr. Huckabee, a former Arkansas Governor, got 34 per cent of the votes polled. He outpaced the former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney, who had 25 per cent.

Among other contenders, Fred Thompson and the former Senator of Arizona, John McCain, got 13 per cent each, while Ron Paul secured 10 per cent. The former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, languished at 4 per cent.

Mr. Huckabee, who remained at the bottom of the pack till last month, told his supporters: “Tonight what we have seen is a new day in American politics. … It starts here in Iowa and does not end here. It goes all the way through to other States and ends at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue [location of the White House].”

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