Barack Obama has won the Iowa primary. Half of voters chose Mr. Obama, a first–term African–American senator from Illinois beating the frontrunner Hillary Clinton by a significant margin. Of particular note was the makeup of voters: 22% were under age 29, five percentage points higher than in 2004. More than half were first–time caucus–goers.

On the Republican side, was former baptist minister Mike Huckabee who won largely on the strength of late–breaking support from fellow Christian conservatives. Huckabee has come out strongly against gay rights and abortion but does play in a band named Capitol Offense.

2008's election is perhaps the most significant American general in many years, with not just Americans, but the entire world looking at the outcome.