Democratic candidates
With the New Hampshire primaries just hours away, the Democratic candidates are desperate to secure every last vote in what promises to be an intensely compelling election battle.
The darling of the media has been Howard Dean, the much-hyped doctor and former Governor of Vermont, who until the time of the Iowa primary last week appeared to be the firm favourite. The actual result therefore came as something of a bombshell: Howard managed to scrape just 18 per cent of the vote to come a disappointing third. Yet whilst the family doctor may have lost out due to his notorious foreign policy gaffes, we only have to think back to George W's dramatic blunders during his election campaign to conclude that it is the domestic agenda that is foremost in most voters' minds.
This is something clearly recognised by Senator John Edwards, whose promise to improve the plight of millions of many struggling working class Americans has won favour with many democratic voters. An unlikely runner-up in the Iowa caucuses, support for the Southern Democrat looks set to pick up still further when the primaries move south in a few weeks' time.
Senator John Kerry was expected to disappear into the political wilderness before the Iowa primary, but amazed the nation by taking the caucuses by storm to gain 38 per cent of the vote. Kerry's strong anti-Bush stance has triggered a resurgence of popular support, whilst his status as a Vietnam veteran also acts in his favour, striking a resounding chord with an American people still wondering where Bush was during that conflict.
Wesley Clark is another front-runner, who as NATO general for many years attacks the relative lack of military commitment in his contenders. Naturally, he has a strong position on defence and may find favour with voters who look for strong leadership in an age of international uncertainty.
The New Hampshire primaries take place this week, and have traditionally been seen as a beacon for the rest. With upsets so early on in the game, the race for Democratic candidate, and ultimately US president, looks set to be a fiercely fought and unpredictable contest.
29th Jan 2004