Moving on from New Hampshire

As a resident of Iowa and New Hampshire I followed the primary race and got updates from friends and family.

The take-aways are clear:

First, it was a hugely energetic event with voters passionate about voting with long lines, traffic jams, snow, slippery sidewalks, congested polling places.

Second, the media and Americans got the results quickly and cleanly. There were no conversions of actual votes to delegate equivalents, no screw ups in voting (that we know of), and no coin flipping to decide delegate allocation. Iowa Democrats take notice.

Third, the media and establishment Republicans were stunned at Donald Trump's 35.3 percent victory and 10-delegate harvest, far above polling expectations. He won across every demographic and proved wrong the media claim that his 'ground game” and voter turnout strategy was poor. I've been analyzing this contest since Obama won re-election when the jockeying already started. When Trump announce he was mocked, ridiculed, told to drop out, declared 'dead” after every statement that shocked the media. ALL the 'experts” from the media were dead wrong proving they were slanting their analysis to fit their own outrage and dislike of Trump. Can he get traction in South Carolina? Some say he's to crude and rude for the polite and religious folks there. Remember 63.1 percent did NOT VOTE FOR TRUMP!

Fourth, the strong second place showing by Gov. Kasich (15.8 percent). This is a conundrum because most analysts think he cannot do well in South Carolina or Super Tuesday on March 1 because he's too 'moderate”. They say March 8 Michigan is his best shot at strength. Then March 15 could yield some hits for Kasich when Ohio, Florida, Illinois, have their primaries.

Fifth, the incredible underperformance of Chris Christie (7.5 percent), a mainstream media favorite and the candidate who practically had moved to New Hampshire and was banking it all on the Granite State was a shocker. It was also a sad blow to Iowa GOP heavyweights who have wanted Christie for at least the past four years. By the time you read this Christie may have 'suspended” his campaign. Who will he endorse - maybe Bush?

Sixth, the 'bunch up” of the two main 'establishment” contenders Jeb Bush (11.1 percent) and Marco Rubio 10.5 percent), which is a headache for the GOP because it now means it will take longer to 'winnow” the herd. How brutal will their clashes be in the coming weeks? Will Bush do well in S. Carolina ('Bush country”) but then where can he win?

Seventh the incomprehensible delay in Carly Fiorina (4.2 percent) and Ben Carson (2.3 percent) dropping out. May I add that I am personally shocked that Dr. Carson has so imploded. His Evangelical supporters in Iowa and of course, in the less 'churchy” New Hampshire seem to have abandoned him.

Eighth, Ted Cruz did better (11.6 percent) than I expected coming in third. New Hampshire was not his venue. Cruz clearly can look forward to 'his” southern, conservative territory and it would be a surprise if he doesn't stay strong. Will he win South Carolina as some think?

Ninth, the strength of Bernie Sanders showing with 60 percent was far above anyone's predictions. So much for the claim that his young supporters would not show and that his 'ground game” was weak. BUT, can he win in other, less liberal, less secular, more black states?

Tenth, Hillary Clinton's weak performance (38.3 percent) and loss of key constituencies including working class voters, young voters, and especially younger women was a true shock. There is a lot of churning about why she did so poorly - is it the fault of her campaign organization and team?; is it that she is seen as untrustworthy by Democrats? (yes, in part); Is it her million dollar Wall Street speeches? Is it her emails and home server? Is it because she is 'old-school feminist” as she has said 'the sisterhood of the pantsuits”?; is it because there is rampant sexism and misogyny as ISU Catt Center Director Dianne Bystrom and others have written? The answer appears to be yes to all of these. BUT, Clinton is said to have the minority votes lined up in the south.

The biggest take-away is that this will be a fabulous and very long caucuses and primary season going all the way to June. I think that's actually wonderful for American democracy. Why should folks in South Dakota (where I am writing this column today) not get candidates campaigning and fishing for their delegates to the national convention just because the primary is June 7? A long campaign engages more people and spreads the joy to the entire country.

' Steffen Schmidt is professor of political science at Iowa State University. Comments: steffenschmidt2005@gmail.com