Rep. Dave Loebsack now has bragging rights over the other Democrats in Iowa’s Congressional delegation.
The three House Democrats from the Hawkeye State each endorsed a different candidate for president, but Loebsack’s horse, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), came out on top Thursday in the state’s presidential caucuses.
Former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) were fighting for second place late Thursday night. Clinton was endorsed by veteran Rep. Leonard Boswell and Edwards was the choice of freshman Rep. Bruce Braley, a fellow trial lawyer. The state’s Democratic Senator, Tom Harkin, remained neutral, though his wife was a Clinton backer.
On the Republican side, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the victor over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.) and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) were fighting for third place.
Only one of Iowa’s three Republican Members of Congress had endorsed in the presidential contest: Rep. Steve King recently endorsed Thompson. Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Tom Latham had remained on the sidelines.
The presidential contest moves next to New Hampshire, where the primary will be held Tuesday.
— Josh Kurtz
