Where's Everyone Going?

With Evan Bayh recently dropping out of the 2008 presidential race and Mark Warner and Russ Feingold doing the same earlier, the list of candidates is getting smaller and smaller. Usually, it is Iowans that are allowed to narrow the field during the caucuses, but the candidates are doing it themselves. The Quad Cities Times takes a look at why.

But the combination of rock stars (U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill.), a favorite son (Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack) and a well-thought-of cousin (ex-U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina) may be making it tough for presidential aspirants not as well situated to wonder whether they can grab one of the three tickets traditionally available to candidates wanting to make the trip out of Iowa and the caucuses to New Hampshire and the first primary election.

“There’s a perception out there that there’s going to be heavy hitters with better name recognition in the race,” said Rob Tully, vice chairman of the state Democratic Party and an Edwards backer.