Despite the hype to the contrary, please do not consider the outcome of the Iowa caucuses as

[Atticus]

"determinative" of anything except the Iowa caucuses, no matter who prevails. I don't even think it is a reliable indicator of who Iowa prefers.

There are several people bunched at the top of most polls. Unless one of them absolutely blows the rest of them away, we won't know much more tomorrow evening than we know right now. I know it is trite, but the race for the nomination IS a marathon, not a sprint.

[George II]

1. At this rate the top candidate will get about 12 delegates, the lowest about 8. Inconsequential.

[Thekaspervote]

2. Exactly!!

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. It's just starting. Iowa is like winning the 100 yard dash in a 10 mile race.

Lotta rabbits start strong, end; not so well.

[George II]

4. Did you ever see the start of a marathon before they put the elite runners up front?

About a dozen runners get right up to the line and sprint their asses off so they get their pictures in the news. They all usually drop out after about a mile.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. All great races need rabbits.

They surpass the pace and force the best to do better.

[Blue_true]

6. Very true.

Even in very elite fields, there are 5k, 10k and 20k specialists. They are there specifically to push the pace over the distance that they are good at. Having one of them actually WIN a marathon would be like having a quarter-horse win The Belmont.

[George II]

7. Yes, even marathons have rabbits, but they last about 20 miles or so. The guys I'm talking about....

....are just attention seekers who fade into the crowd in the first mile and quietly drop out.

[JoeOtterbein]

8. A win is a win. ntn