Obama leads Clinton in Iowa, May be Stronger Candidate

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Recent polls show that Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama leads the contenders in the important primary state of Iowa by 30% over Hillary Clinton’s 26% (followed by John Edwards at 22%).

This is an increase in Obama’s lead since July, when he led by only 1%.

While political pundits say that a 4% difference amounts to a tie, there is another factor at play that may give Obama the edge in Iowa. Complicated "caucus math" dictates that whomever comes in second place the most often will have an advantage, and more voters for other candidates listed Obama as their second-place choice than Clinton.

In recent weeks Clinton has seen her impressive lead shrink, and her campaign is said to be especially concerned with the new stats in Iowa.

Experts say that historically, Iowa has been a "giant killer," or a place where frontrunners turn into anything but.

Attacks between the Clinton and Obama camps have sharpened as of late, as the race becomes tighter and the primary season edges closer.

Most recently, Clinton criticized Obama’s foreign experience, saying that his living in Indonesia as a child has given him "a ten-year-old’s perspective on foreign policy," adding that she had traveled extensively as First Lady and as a senator, and had an advantage over Obama.

Countered Obama, "Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld have spent time in the White House and traveled to many countries as well, but along with Hillary Clinton, they led us into the worst foreign policy disaster in a generation and are now giving George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran." Added Obama to reporters, "The real choice in this election is between conventional Washington thinking that prizes posture and positioning, or real change that puts judgment and honesty first."

Voters seemed to back up his message, as another poll showed that voters favor a change in direction and fresh leadership over experience and strength.

To counter their perceived images in the public, the Clinton campaign needs to strive harder to prove that their candidate will actually be a departure from business as usual in Washington, while Obama must show that he has the strength and leadership ability to run the country, plus "electability."

Until then, both candidates seem content to pick each other apart in increasingly negative attacks.

The Iowa primary is considered important because it is the first real test for the Presidential candidates.